HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc368-9W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by region those sites of special scientific interest that have been damaged or destroyed during each of the last three years; and if he will indicate the nature of the damage in each case.

Mr. Atkins

Information on loss of and damage to SSSIs generally and on the principal causes of such loss or damage is contained in the annual reports of English Nature and of the former Nature Conservancy Council, copies of which are in the Library. Information on individual sites is not available to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the maximum fines under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for a landowner(a) carrying out a potentially damaging operation to a site of special scientific interest and (b) contravening a nature conservation order under section 29.

Mr. Atkins

The maximum fines for offences under section 28 and 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are set at levels 4 and 5 on the standard scale. They are currently £2,500 and £5,000 respectively.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many man hours have been spent by English Nature and its predecessor the Nature Conservancy Council in dealing with the protection of the site of special scientific interest at Westhay moor in Somerset since 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

There are some 65 owners and occupiers of this SSSI. Detailed records are not maintained of work on individual sites, but English Nature estimate that at least three and a half man years have been spent since 1987 in protecting Westhay moor.