§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy regarding building roads through sites of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyThe Government have a long-standing policy of keeping roads away from protected areas such as sites of special scientific interest wherever possible. In cases where it is impossible to avoid such sites the greatest care is taken to design the road sensitively and, where practicable, to preserve or recreate habitats, to relocate plant and animal species and to screen the road by the extensive use of planting and landscaping.