§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the list of possible special areas of conservation for(a) rivers, (b) active raised bogs, (c) intertidal areas straddling the land sea divide, (d) otter, lutra lutra, (e) great crested newt, (f) fan moss and (h) oligotropic waters in medio European and perialpine areas with amphibious vegetation will be published for consultation. [28451]
§ Mr. AtkinsAdditional SSSI notification work is required before we can consult on riverine possible special areas of conservation, further active raised bog and 609W blanket bog sites and some intertidal areas. Additional scientific and survey work is currently in progress to identify suitable sites for the otter, great crested newt, freshwater pearl mussel and fen moss. The nature conservation agencies are also considering whether more sites are required to represent oligotrpic waters in medio European and perialpine areas with amphibious vegetation in addition to those on which we have already consulted. I hope that a further consultation exercise will take place later this year.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are for Orton Brick pit site in Peterborough to be proposed for submission as a special area of conservation under the EU habitats and species directive. [28450]
§ Mr. AtkinsAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his reply to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 31 March 1995,Official Report, columns 834–35, the nature conservation agencies are in the process of carrying out further survey work before recommending possible special areas of conservation for the great crested newt to Government.