§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the lack of any obligation by owners of sites of special scientific interest to notify the Nature Conservancy Council in advance of any proposed changes which would be harmful to the site provides adequate safeguards against the loss of various species of wild life.
§ Mr. MonroMy right hon. Friend is urgently considering the views which were expressed on this question in another place during the Committee stage of the Wildlife and Countryside Bill. As my hon. Friend is aware, the arrangements relating to grant-aid make it a pre-condition of any approval of grant that the owners shall have given the NCC such prior notification.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the recent agricultural operations upon a major part of the Horton Common site of special scientific interest have damaged the scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MonroRecent agricultural reclamation has substantially reduced the scientific interest on the major part of the Horton Common site of special scientific interest. I hope future management will enable the remainder of the site to continue to be of scientific interest.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which protected species of flora and fauna listed in appendices I and II of the Berne convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats were known to occur upon the Horton Common site of special scientific interest.
§ Mr. MonroNo species of flora listed in appendix I of the Berne convention were known to occur in Horton Common site of special scientific interest. The species of fauna included in appendix II to the convention known to occur in Horton Common are:
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Fauna Smooth snake Coronella austriaca Dartford warbler Sylvia undata Hobby Falco subbutes Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Green woodpecker Picus viridis Stonechat Saxicola torquata Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Fauna Whitethroat Sylvia cummunis Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Wren Troglodytes troglodytes