Sites of Special Scientific Interest

HC Deb 20 January 1986 vol 90 cc48-50W

Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what provision exists under the financial guidelines relating to management agreements under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for compensation to agricultural or forestry employees who are made redundant as a result of the designation of a site of special scientific interest or subsequent management agreement;

(2) whether records are kept of redundancies resulting directly from the designation of sites of special scientific interest by his Department or by the Nature Conservancy Council.

Mrs. Rumbold

Management agreements entered into by the Nature Conservancy Council with owners or occupiers of land in sites of special scientific interest may include provision for payments in respect of financial losses directly attributable to changes in management practices required to conserve the scientific interest of the land. The Nature Conservancy Council would expect in appropriate circumstances to take account of losses arising from redundancy payments in negotiating an agreement.

Neither the Department nor the Nature Conservancy Council is aware of any redundancies arising from management agreements. In general, management of land to maintain or enhance its conservation interest tends to require greater use of labour intensive methods.