HC Deb 21 November 1984 vol 68 cc160-1W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many sites of special scientific interest have been designated in Wales under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

394 sites of special scientific interest have been notified or renotified in Wales under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average period between notification by owners of sites of special scientific interest in Wales of their intention to undertake agricultural or other activity with impact on the site's designation and response to the notification by the Nature Conservancy Council.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

Section 28(5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 requires owners and occupiers of sites of special scientific interest to give the Nature Conservancy Council three months notice of their intention to carry out operations contained in the list of notifiable operations for the site in question. This period can be extended by mutual agreement between the parties. Details of the extent to which this occurs and the periods involved are not available. The Nature Conservancy Council aims in Wales to provide an initial response to notifications within four weeks. The length of time entailed in giving a final response in terms of giving consent or negotiating a management agreement in accordance with section 28(6) depends on the circumstances of each notification. It is not possible to assess the average period involved.

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