HC Deb 23 November 1989 vol 162 cc16-7W
Mr. Mans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the proposed reorganisation of the Nature Conservancy Council.

Mr. Chris Patten

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I very much welcome the advice that we have received from the Nature Conservancy Council on the arrangements that it would be appropriate to make, within the context of three independent councils for England, Scotland and Wales, to ensure the continuation of a strong and consistent science base for their work, and to address issues that have a Great Britain and international dimension. The Government have also taken account of the wide range of advice received from the conservation and scientific communities and the NCC's paper on "Policy and Science" which was published earlier this month.

I am glad to note that there is no disagreement with the NCC on the main elements of the organisational structure that will be required. The Government intend to place on the successor bodies to the present NCC a statutory duty to form a joint committee comprising the chairmen and other representatives from those bodies to which they will be required to remit matters calling for collective consideration. They will have joint statutory responsibilities, in addition to those which they will exercise for their respective areas, to:

  1. (a) provide advice (including advice to Government) and disseminate knowledge about nature conservation issues with a Great Britain or international dimension; and
  2. (b) establish common standards for designation, research, monitoring and data analysis and to commission or support research on matters affecting Great Britain and international responsibilities.

The councils will be required to ensure that adequate and appropriate resources are provided to undertake the committee's identified tasks.

These arrangements complement our determination to ensure that each council is adequately provided with scientific advice for its individual responsibilities. They will ensure that effective scientific and co-ordination services are available to enable the councils to meet those responsibilities which can best be discharged collectively and that they are able to tender authoritative advice to Government on Great Britain, United Kingdom and international matters.

The Government intend to make appropriate arrangements for participation by organisations in Northern Ireland to secure full coverage of the United Kingdom.

The NCC has suggested that the joint committee should have an independent chairman appointed by the Government. In our view, however, such an arrangement would detract from the concept of the collective responsibility of the successor bodies jointly to ensure a coherent scientific basis for their work and agree the advice to be tendered to Government. The arrangements for chairing the committee will, therefore, be a matter for the committee to determine. We intend, however, that the committee should be assisted by independent assessors appointed by the Government. It is our intention to seek nominations for assessors from leading scientific institutions.

I am sure that these arrangements will secure the advance of nature conservation in all four countries, from a sound scientific foundation, and take forward the work of the present council (to which tribute is due for the splendid work it has done) in a manner that is appropriate to the 1990s.