Sites of Special Scientific Interest

HC Deb 16 July 1998 vol 316 cc238-9W

Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents of damage to sites of special scientific interest have occurred in each year since 1992. [50140]

Angela Eagle

Details of the number of incidents of damage to Sites of Special Scientific Interest are published in the annual reports produced by the respective country agencies, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, all of which are held in the Library of the House.

Such figures are not presently available for areas of special scientific interest in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department(a) has issued and (b) intends to issue to the wildlife agencies responsible for monitoring and supervising sites of special scientific interest for the discharge of their duties. [50141]

Angela Eagle

The wildlife agencies have a statutory duty to notify Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

The Department issued a Code of Guidance for SSSIs in 1983. this explained the provisions contained in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the protection of special sites, including the notification of sites. We will review the need for further guidance in England and Wales following consultation on improvements to the protection and management of SSSIs.

The financial relationship between the DETR and English Nature is governed by a financial memorandum. This has recently been reviewed and a revised text came into operation at the start of the current financial year. We will adopt a management statement describing the strategic relationship between the Department and English Nature as soon as we receive Treasury and Cabinet Office approval of the text.

English Nature adheres to the procedures set out in "Government Accounting", and is notified by the Department of changes to this guidance from time to time. English Nature is also notified of Ministerial priorities when the allocation of grant-in-aid for each financial year is announced.

These are matters for the territorial departments in relation to the wildlife agencies in Wales and Scotland.