HL Deb 13 March 1992 vol 536 cc77-8WA
Lord Moran

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What response they have made to the European Commission's reasoned opinion about the rate of special protection area designations in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Blatch

Details of the correspondence between the Government and the European Commission are confidential. However, I can inform the noble Lord that the UK provided the Commission with details of the protection afforded to designated and potential special protection areas, and confirmed that the rate of designation would be accelerated.

Lord Moran

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list (a) the total number of designated special protection areas (b) the proportion of land surface in the United Kingdom covered by such areas and (c) the total land surface covered by such areas in each of the member states of the European Community.

Baroness Blatch

The designation yesterday of the Exe Estuary, Lindisfarne and Old Hall Marshes in England and Swan Island, Lough Lame in Northern Ireland brought the total of special protection areas in the UK to 47, and further designations are expected soon. Approximately 0.6 per cent. of the land surface in the UK is covered by SPA designation. Details of designated SPAs in EC Member States are contained in the European Commission's reportSpecial Protection Areas—April 1991 (XI/308/91), a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Lord Moran

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of areas identified by the statutory conservation agencies as special protection areas have so far been designated in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

Baroness Blatch

Approximately 222 potential special protection areas have been identified by the statutory conservation agencies in Britain. Of those submitted to Government for consideration, approximately 67 per cent. have been designated in England, 45 per cent. in Wales and 58 per cent. in Scotland. Further designations are expected soon. The first SPA in Northern Ireland, Swan Island, Lough Larne, was designated on 11th March; work is continuing to identify further potential sites in Northern Ireland.