HC Deb 18 July 1978 vol 954 cc177-8W
Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken by his Department to preserve the natural habitat of wading birds, particularly in the Ribble estuary.

Mr. Denis Howell

The Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 established The Nature Conservancy Council. The NCC has a statutory responsibility for establishing nature reserves and for designating areas as sites of special scientific interest. These nature reserves and SSSIs will include the habitat of wading birds. The NCC is negotiating with the owner of the SSSI in the Ribble estuary to protect the wildlife on that site.