HC Deb 10 December 1990 vol 182 cc268-9W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in how many cases in the last five years sufficient damage has been inflicted upon sites of special scientific interest to render designation meaningless;

(2) how many sites of special scientific interest have been damaged by statutory organisations during the last five years; and in how many of these cases either official permission was given or official approval was signified.

Mr. Baldry

The information is not available in the form requested. Since 1 April 1984 information on the numbers of SSSIs damaged is set out in the Nature Conservancy Council's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of sites of special scientific interest which have been damaged or destroyed during the last three years; and what is his estimate of the area affected by this damage or destruction.

Mr. Baldry

The information requested is as follows:

Year Number damaged Estimated area (ha)
1987–88 166 27,297
1988–89 241 30,067
1989–90 324 91,677

This includes damage of all kinds whether significant or not. It includes proposed SSSIs and both those SSSIs notified under the 1981 Act and those notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and not yet renotified.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the present level of protection is sufficient to safeguard the 900 sites which are assessed to be of key importance in their conservation interest; and what action he is taking to provide the necessary protection.

Mr. Baldry

I am satisfied that the SSSI and the national nature reserve systems afford the protection necessary to these sites.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to reduce the damage or destruction of sites of special scientific interest.

Mr. Baldry

We are always ready to consider with the NCC and others practicable action to minimise damage to SSSIs. The NCC is encouraged to take all steps necessary to minimise damage, including the entering into of management agreements and in appropriate circumstances by requesting that the Secretary of State make a nature conservation order.