HC Deb 24 June 1991 vol 193 c377W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations took place with the chairmen of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales, and the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, in advance of the introduction of provisions for the establishment of an advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Bill.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Consultations took place between the Scottish Office Environment Department and the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, the Government's statutory adviser on nature conservation in Scotland, before the amendments introducing these provisions were tabled. Since the committee relates exclusively to Scotland and its establishment does not affect the SSSI procedures laid down in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, no consultation with English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales was necessary. As the advisory committee can deal only with individual cases within the site guidelines overseen by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and there will be no overlap in membership, it was not necessary to consult the JNCC chairman.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland of the total number of sites of special scientific interest in Scotland(a) how many were objected to at the point of notification and (b) how many were objected to subsequent to notification; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 21 June 1991]: As at 31 March 1991, 1,319 sites of special scientific interest had been notified in Scotland. A right of objection was introduced by the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, which came into effect on 26 August 1985. The Nature Conservancy Council's latest available figures are that 541 sites were confirmed during the period from 1 August 1985 to 30 November 1990 and that representations or objections were received in respect of 153 of those sites. The detailed information about the stage at which objections were received is not available.