§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will increase resources to allow the designation of special sites to be undertaken more speedily and effectively;
(2) if he will make resources available to identify species decline in the British Isles; and if he will strengthen legislation protecting endangered species habitat.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government's grant-in-aid to the Nature Conservancy Council in the financial year 1990–91 will be £44.069 million, an increase over this year of almost £4 million. The council has indicated that this amount will allow it to carry forward its statutory work and to deliver additional benefits for nature conservation. Within the framework of the corporate plan, it is for the council to decide the priorities of the calls on its resources, and site safeguard is regarded as being of the highest priority. The Government have no plans to amend the legislative provisions for protecting the habitats of endangered species.