§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have plans to increase the protection afforded to Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Strathclyde)In 1991 we announced additional safeguards for SSSIs which came into effect on 2nd January 1992. In order to meet obligations under the EC Habitats Directive we are considering what additional measures are necessary. Further guidance on how our policies for the conservation of natural heritage are to be reflected in land use planning and development control is to be set out in a Planning Policy Guidance Note, which will be published shortly. In 1991 we published a policy statement on AONBs in which we reiterated our support for the Countryside Commission's aims to raise the awareness of AONBs and to increase local commitment to their care and protection. Policies for AONBs were published in Planning Policy Guidance Note 7 on the Countryside and the Rural Economy in January 1992.