§ Mr. NichollsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many special protection area sites are currently designated in the United Kingdom;
(2) how many Ramsar sites are currently proposed in the United Kingdom; and if he will place a map of these sites in the Library;
(3) if he will place in the Library map refrences for the full geographical details of special protection area sites and Ramsar sites in the United Kingdom;
(4) how many United Kingdom special protection area sites are in coastal locations;
(5) how many Ramsar sites there are within two miles of a port boundary where the port is designated as a major port;
(6) how many sites currently proposed for designation as United Kingdom special protection area sites are in coastal locations;
(7) which Ramsar sites, or proposed Ramsar sites, would be eligible to be designated special protection area sites;
(8) how many proposed Ramsar sites there are in England;
(9) how many United Kingdom sites are currently proposed for designation as special protection areas;
(10) how many Ramsar sites are currently designated in the United Kingdom; and if he will place a map of these sites in the Library;
(11) if he will list the bodies in England, Wales and Scotland which are responsible for determining a proposed special protection area site;
(12) if he will list the bodies in England, Wales and Scotland which are responsible for determining Ramsar sites.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Wales and for Scotland are responsible for determining Ramsar sites and special protection areas in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. They are advised by the nature conservation councils for the three countries.
Some 76 Ramsar sites have been designated in the United Kingdom. A map showing protected areas in the United Kingdom, including Ramsar sites and special protection areas is reproduced on page 84 of "Sustainable Development—The United Kingdom Strategy", Cm 2426, a copy of which is in the Library. Information on the number of Ramsar sites within two miles of a port 374W boundary, where the port is designated as a major port, is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There are a further 83 sites identified as being suitable for designation as Ramsar sites in the United Kingdom, of which 32 are in England. A list of Ramsar sites was published on 17 July 1991 Official Report, columns 201–6 and 217–22 and on 18 July 1991, Official Report, columns 254–55, which covered Great Britain sites only.
Some 86 special protection areas have been designated in the United Kingdom, of which 54 are in coastal locations. Some 151 potential special protection areas, which were included in the lists published in July 1991, remain to be designated, of which 89 are in coastal locations. Some 49 designated Ramsar sites in the United Kingdom are wholly or partly also special protection areas. Some 72 identified Ramsar sites in the United Kingdom are also potential special protection areas. A list of map references for the full geographical details of designated special protection area sites and Ramsar sites in the United Kingdom will be placed in the Library shortly. The list of potential Ramsar sites and special protection areas is being reviewed in the light of the most recent scientific knowledge and information. When this work is completed, map references indicating the location of the sites will be placed in the Library.