Sites of Special Scientific Interest

HC Deb 11 June 1992 vol 209 c260W

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to improve the monitoring of sites of special scientific interest.

Mr. Maclean

In England the responsibility for monitoring individual sites of special scientific interest lies with English Nature which is giving particular attention to improving its performance in this area. For example in 1991–92 some 51 per cent. of SSSIs in England received site integrity monitoring involving a basic check on whether major loss or damage has occurred. English Nature is also developing its existing system of site quality monitoring which surveys a sample of SSSIs for its detailed scientific value each year.