HL Deb 16 March 1981 vol 418 cc648-9WA
Viscount Thurso

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many sites of special scientific interest have been notified in Caithness, what acreage they cover and what percentage of the total acreage of rough grazing does this represent; how many sites are under consideration for notification as sites of special scientific interest but have not yet been notified, what acreage will they cover if notified and what percentage of the available rough grazing of Caithness will then be covered by sites of special scientific interest; and how many of the sites of special scientific interest in Caithness which have been notified have been inspected by officers of the Nature Conservancy Council before notification.

The Earl of Avon

To date, 27 sites of special scientific interest covering an area of 38,018 acres have been notified in Caithness. A further 36 new sites and extensions to 2 existing sites covering a further 13,959 acres are under consideration for notification as sites of special scientific interest.

The percentage or rough grazing the existing and proposed sites cover could only be accurately established at disproportionate cost.

All of the already notified sites of special scientific interest were inspected by officers of the Nature Conservancy Council before notification.