§ Mrs. MaddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce legislation to allow Government agencies to regulate the activities of harbour authorities in marine nature reserves;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to allow Government agencies to control navigation and fisheries within the boundaries of marine nature reserves established under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Government have no such plans for marine nature reserves. However, the Government will shortly be laying regulations which will provide for the selection, protection and management of special areas of conservation under the EC habitats directive. Those regulations will place a duty on harbour, navigation and fisheries authorities to undertake their responsibilities in accordance with the requirements of the directive in relation to such areas.
§ Mrs. MaddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to protect vulnerable sea areas around the United Kingdom coast and to provide for their integrated management.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Government will shortly be laying regulations, under the European Communities Act 1972, which will provide for the selection, protection and management of special areas of conservation under the EC habitats directive. A number of those areas will be in the marine environment.
Last October, the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office issued discussion papers on coastal management and control of development below the low-water mark, which looked at the broader issues relating to the management of the coastal zone. We are considering the responses.