§ 20. Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further efforts will be made to preserve biodiversity within critical habitats in Britain; and if he will make a statement. [752]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Government plan to submit further candidate special areas of conservation under the EC habitats directive when the results of the recent public consultation on the proposed list have been fully considered. In addition, the steering group, set up by the Government to advise on biodiversity, will publish its report on 13 December. The report will contain proposals for targets and costed action plans for key species and habitats in the United Kingdom.