§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which have(a) supported him and (b) criticised in writing to him his proposals for changes in the Nature Conservancy Council; and what representations he has had from Mr. Derek Ratcliffe on the future of science in the Nature Conservancy Council.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 4 December 1989]: My Department has received a large number of representations about the proposals to reorganise the Nature Conservancy Council. It is not possible to allocate these in a meaningful way to the categories requested. A number of 218W representations contained elements both of support and of criticism. A letter from the former chief scientist of the NCC, Mr. Ratcliffe, made a thoughtful contribution on the need for cohesive operational strategies, the maintenance of high standards in conservation science, evaluation and practice and on maximising the use of scarce resources. We took account of all the points made in the representations received in formulating the Government's proposals (announced on 23 November) to establish a statutory joint committee of the new country agencies to maintain scientific standards and take responsibility for the scientific aspects of nature conservation issues which have a Great Britain or international dimension.