§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to begin designating marine nature reserves; what preparatory work has so far been done; and what part the Nature Conservancy Council has taken in this.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIt is not possible to make a reliable estimate of when the first marine nature reserve will be designated.
Preparatory work has included the survey and selection of a short list of seven sites, using the criteria in subsection 36(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 198]; investigation of the controls needed for their protection; 749W and widespread informal consultation with interested organisations and individuals. The Nature Conservancy Council has undertaken the bulk of this work.