§ 42. Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the protection of the environment on lands owned or used by his Department.
65. Mr. YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the protection of the environment on lands owned or used by his Department.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Ministry of Defence regards conservation and the protection of the environment as integral parts of both the management and use of its estate. Since 1973 the Ministry has appointed a conservation officer to promote and co-ordinate conservation activity throughout the estate and most MOD establishments are covered by a conservation group which typically includes representatives of local communities, environmental bodies and conservation specialists. The Ministry works closely with the Nature Conservancy Council — particularly in relation to the 176 sites of special scientific interest on the estate — and has recently signed a joint declaration with the NCC on the approach to be adopted to conservation on defence land.