§ Mr. Ottawayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of sites of special scientific interest in England and Wales have been re-notified in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and when he expects completion of the re-notification programme.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that by 31 March 1986, 45 per cent. of SSSIs in England notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, and 71 per cent. in Wales, had been re-notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The re-notification of sites to owners and occupiers is expected to be substantially complete, in Wales by the end of this year, and in England and Scotland, (because of unforeseen technical and legal difficulties which have been overcome), shortly after.
§ Mr. Ottawayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many proposed sites of special scientific interest have been notified to him by the Nature Conservancy Council since the coming into force of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and what percentage of those have since been notified as sites of special scientific interest in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
§ Mr. WaldegraveBy 31 March 1986, 841 new SSSIs and 1,972 SSSIs previously notified to local authorities under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 had been notified by the Nature Conservancy Council to the Secretary of State, local authorities and owners and occupiers. The NCC does not give advance notice of proposed SSSIs to the Secretary of State.