HC Deb 22 May 1986 vol 98 c281W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report progress on consultations with the Countryside Commission for Scotland and the Nature Conservancy Council over the selection and setting up of environmentally sensitive areas under the Agriculture Bill.

Mr. John MacKay

Consultations are almost complete and a report will be made shortly to my right hon. and learned Friend.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider producing an annual publication for Scotland of the document "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" produced for England and Wales by the Department of the Environment.

Mr. Ancram

Such a publication has not so far been felt necessary mainly because information is available in existing publications.

In particular, the "Scottish Abstract of Statistics", published annually, contains Scottish environmental data, while data on river water quality are published by the Scottish Development Department at approximately five-year intervals. In addition, in 1984, Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate published two statistical bulletins containing details of all radioactive waste disposals from the Scottish nuclear establishments and the monitoring undertaken in respect of them; subsequent information on disposals was published in a further bulletin in February 1986, and it is intended to publish further monitoring results shortly. These bulletins include all the relevant information relating to Scotland which is provided on a United Kingdom basis in the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics."

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department will be participating in the scheme to set aside funds for the conservation of environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland.

Mr. John MacKay

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland announced in January a short list of areas to be considered for designation in Scotland. My right hon. and learned Friend intends to designate at least one of these areas after the Agriculture Bill receives the Royal Assent.