§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to require all planning applications affecting sites of special scientific interest to receive direct ministerial approval.
§ Mr. MacleanNo. Department of the Environment circular 1/92 states that the Secretary of State will normally call in planning applications which are likely to affect SSSIs of international importance and of recognised national importance. Guidance to local authorities and others on how the conservation of our natural heritage is to be reflected in land use planning and development control is set out in circular 27/87. The guidance will be updated in a planning policy guidance note, which will be published shortly.