§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary State for Scotland if he will list by region the number of management agreements made between the Nature Conservancy Council and landowners in 1988 and each of the preceding two years.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 27 June 1989]: The Nature Conservancy Council has advised me that the numbers of management agreements made in its Scottish regions in the years 1986–87 to 1988–89 were as follows:
1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 North West region 13 17 12 North East region 16 15 18 South West region 10 25 9 South East region 9 19 5
§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary State for Scotland what is the average time taken between notification by the Nature Conservancy Council of its intention to place a restriction on certain farming activities on a site of special scientific interest and the reaching of a management agreement with the landowner.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 27 June 1989]: The notification of land as a site of special scientific interest by the Nature Conservancy Council does not restrict existing farming activities. Where such activities are damaging to the special interest, they may be restricted only under a voluntary management agreement. Where a farmer proposes changes in activity he is obliged to serve notice on the NCC which if it wishes to restrict such activities will, within four months, offer to negotiate a management agreement. For the length of time taken to negotiate a management agreement I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 14 February 1989 to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), column 189.