Nature Conservancy (Hansard, 16 February 1990)

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from hon. Members concerning his proposals to reorganise the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission.

Mr. Tripper
I have received a range of representations from hon. Members, reflecting many shades of opinion about these proposals. These representations include more than 450 letters from hon. Members enclosing correspondence which they have received from their constituents.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the likely budgetary requirements of the Nature Conservancy Council's proposed joint committee in its first year of operation.

§ Mr. Trippier
The cost of undertaking these functions of the new conservation bodies which are to be discharged through the proposed joint committee will be taken into account when the Government allocate grants for the new bodies in the forthcoming public expenditure round. Discussions about the structure of the joint committee are currently taking place with the NCC and other interested parties and it is too early to estimate the precise costs which will be incurred in the committee's full first year of operation (1991–92).

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to introduce custodial sentences for summary offences under part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Trippier
None. When the Act was originally debated all parties agreed that custodial sentences would be inappropriate for offences under its provisions.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action his Department has taken in response to each of the legislative changes to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 recommended to him by the Nature Conservancy Council since 1986; and if he will make a statement.
(2) what assessment he has made of the Nature Conservancy Council report concerning changes and improvements to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, submitted to him on 30 July 1987.

§ Mr. Trippier
My officials have had several discussions with officials of the Nature Conservancy Council and it has been agreed that a number of suggested improvements in the operation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 could be achieved by administrative means, which are being introduced as and when necessary. A Nature Conservancy Council statement reflecting these discussions was published in its "Topical Issues—March 1988".
The Nature Conservancy Council has agreed with the Government's view that the Act has been a significant 438W advance and does not require fundamental change. It would like to see some reinforcement. The Government are not convinced that further legislation is necessary to achieve the Nature Conservancy Council's stated aims.
The question of the conservation of the marine environment raises complex legal and scientific issues which are being examined.