§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those species recommended by the Nature Conservancy Council in 1986 for inclusion in schedules 5 and 8 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which he has decided not to include; if he will give his reasons for rejecting its advice; and in the case of those species, if he will list those organisations which made representations for them to be listed.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe species recommended by the Nature Conservancy Council and which have not been included in schedule 5 are the adder (vipera beris), allis shad (alosa alosa), basking shark (cetorhirius maximus) freshwater pearl mussel (margaritefera margaritefera) and 22 species of British butterflies (rhopalocera).
As I informed the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on Tuesday 8 December the Secretary of State is currently giving further careful consideration to the case for these species.
Those making representations against the NCC recommendations included some local and statutory authorities and fishing interests in Scotland.
My right hon. Friend has accepted all the recommendations made in respect of plants to be listed in schedule 8.