§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is proposing to take to prevent further decline in the number of important wildlife habitats as revealed in the 1990 countryside survey.
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§ Mr. YeoCountryside Survey 1990 reports on the 12-year period leading up to 1990. Since 1990 the Government has set in place a range of positive policy measures in the countryside. These include the introduction of the countryside stewardship scheme in England in June 1991 and the similar Tir Cymen scheme in Wales; the introduction of the hedgerow incentive scheme in 1992 and the extension and development of environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs). The United Kingdom has also strongly advocated the integration of environmental considerations in the reform of the common agricultural policy.
The United Kingdom played a leading role in the negotiations which resulted in the EC Habitats Directive and consequently welcomed its adoption in May 1992 as a step forward for nature conservation in the Community. The Government is fully committed to meeting its obligations under the directive and has just undertaken a wide public consultation process on its proposals for implementing the directive.