§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any nature reserves have been established as recommended by the Nature Conservancy Council in the Somerset Levels, an area of rare plants and animals, endangered by agriculture and commercial peat gathering.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThere are six nature reserves in the Somerset Levels which are owned or managed by the Nature Conservancy Council, local authorities, or voluntary conservation bodies. The Council's Consultation Paper on the Somerset Wetlands does not make any specific recommendation for the establishment of reserves, but analyses the conflict of need which exists in the area and examines various approaches that could guide future action. The Council will shortly be considering what action it should take in the light of this paper and the comments received on it. I am arranging for a copy of the paper to be sent to my hon. Friend.