HC Deb 29 June 1989 vol 155 c506W
Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by reference to site location, the occasions since 1 December 1981 when the European Commission has initiated inquiries with his Department concerning development proposals or other activities which may have an adverse impact on areas qualifying for special protection under article 4 of EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Such inquiries are confidential between the European Commission and Her Majesty's Government, and details are not normally made public.

Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 89, what additional legal protection to that given under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is given to areas which meet the criteria for designation under article 4 of EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds or wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I refer my hon. Friend to the last paragraph of my reply to him on 6 June at column89 in respect of SPAs. Ramsar sites are a further subset of SSSIs. The fact of designation in accordance with this international convention would influence decisions on development proposals affecting these areas; the factors to be taken into account when considering development proposals are set out in detail in DOE circular 27/87—"Nature Conservation".

Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to announce the designation of an area either as a site under the Ramsar convention on the conservation of wetlands of international importance or as a special protection area under EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds, or both.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A number of proposals are currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. The next classification of a site will be announced as soon as the necessary consultations have been satisfactorily completed.