§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the contents of the memorandum of understanding relating to Scottish Natural Heritage in respect of the Balmoral estate; and if he will indicate the terms of the financial agreement. [5495]
§ Mr. KynochThe memorandum of understanding between Balmoral Estates and the former Nature Conservancy Council was drawn up in 1991. It is designed to cover the management of areas of special conservation interest on the Balmoral and Birkhall estates, bearing in mind that the statutory procedures for the notification of sites of special scientific interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 do not apply to Her Majesty's private estates in Scotland.
The provisions of the memorandum include measures for the identification of important sites, the formulation of management plans, dialogue on operations which might harm their special interest and steps which might be taken to enhance the interest.
There is no financial agreement within the terms of the memorandum. It does, however, contain provision for financial terms to be included within any voluntary agreement made in pursuance of the management plans for the site. To date, no such agreements have been entered into.