South Pennine Moors (Hansard, 10 January 1996)

HC Deb 10 January 1996 vol 269 c210W 210W

§ Mr. Chris Davies
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will designate the south Pennine moors as a special protection area under EC directive 79/409/EEC; and if he will make a statement. [7673]

§ Mr. Clappison
The south Pennine moors is now a priority site among some 24 proposals for special protection areas that are currently with the Department. Officials are considering the results of consultations with other Government Departments, and owners and occupiers. In the meantime, planning policy guidance note 9—on nature conservation—requires local planning authorities to treat potential special protection areas in the same way as classified sites.