§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting time for management agreements to be entered into by the Nature Conservancy Council.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that the average time for negotiating agreements involving payments of under £5,000 per annum is slightly under six months. In cases involving higher payments negotiations can be complex and can take up to two years, or more, to complete. In such cases short term interim agreements can sometimes be agreed.