HC Deb 16 December 1993 vol 234 c821W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a statutory provision to provide for the production of management plans for all designated special areas for conservation.

Mr. Yeo

The EC habitats directive requires member states to establish appropriate management plans for special areas of conservation if need be. The statutory nature conservation agencies' powers to formulate management plans will be available for designated special areas of conservation, and the Government will encourage formulation of such plans wherever they will benefit the nature conservation interest of the area.