§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what damage to the fragile and biologically important ecosystem of the Machair in the Western Isles has taken place.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe many natural and man-induced changes affecting the biologically rich grasslands on calcareous sands known as machair on the western seaboard of the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles have been well documented in several studies including those on the beaches of Scotland sponsored by the Countryside Commission for Scotland and on sand dune machair published by the Natural Environment Research Council. The factors producing change include variations in the grazing regimes of domestic stock and rabbits, drainage, pasture improvement, cultivation, sand extraction for building and agricultural purposes and use for tourism and recreation. In common with almost all other natural or semi-natural habitats in Great Britain the machair is undergoing modification or reduction because of changing trends in land use. However extensive areas remain managed under traditional agricultural systems.