HC Deb 31 January 1996 vol 270 cc788-9W
Mr. Chris Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what protection for ponds as wildlife habitats is offered by existing planning legislation. [12311]

Sir Paul Beresford

Section 38 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires local planning authorities to include in their development plans policies in respect of the natural beauty and amenity of the land. Regulation 37 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats and etc.) Regulations 1994 provides for such policies to include policies encouraging the management of landscape features which are of major importance for wild flora and fauna, such as ponds.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what(a) grants and (b) other financial assistance his Department makes available for the construction, conservation and management of ponds as wildlife habitats. [12288]

Mr. Clappison

My Department supports grant assistance for the creation or management of ponds under the countryside stewardship scheme, and SSI management agreements. In the light of stewardship's successful pilot phase, and in advance of its transfer to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April 1996, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced in November that an extra £5 million will be available for new management agreements under countryside stewardship for each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. This is in addition to the existing £11.625 million already available under the scheme.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also provides support for work on ponds under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme, and the Government fund conservation advice provided by ADAS and the farming and wildlife advisory group, including advice on ponds.