§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of individuals in his Department with specific responsibility for nature conservation.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government have taken to implement the priority actions set out in the world conservation strategy launched on 5 March.
§ Mr. MonroThe Government are actively considering their response to the world conservation strategy and intend to make a statement as soon as possible after the recess.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the present expenditure on nature conservation is sufficient to halt the present destruction of United Kingdom wildlife habitats.
§ Mr. MonroI am satisfied that the present level of funding to the Nature Conservancy Council is consistent with economic reality. I have asked the council to keep me informed of any important wildlife site which is under threat and which it or the voluntary conservation bodies are not in a position to save 339W without help from me. It has so far approached me on two such sites and on both occasions I have been able to give the help for which it asked.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he considers that, following the recommendations of the Strutt report, specific grants should be made available to farmers to support wildlife conservation projects.
§ Mr. MonroThe Nature Conservancy Council is already empowered to enter into management agreements with landowners and tenants in areas notified as sites of special scientific interest and to make grants for the purpose of wildlife conservation.