§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those matters which have been reported to him as having been considered by the Nature Conservancy Council in reaching its decision as to whether land should be notified as a site of special scientific interest under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Nature Conservancy Council in deciding whether to notify land as being a site of special scientific interest, is not required to refer to the Secretary of State. However, the criteria for SSSI selection have been published by the NCC, and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.