EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive

HC Deb 02 November 1999 vol 337 cc157-8W

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the planned time-scale for implementation of the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive on uncultivated land and semi-natural areas in England; [93735]

(2) what measures he plans to prevent pre-emptive ploughing of uncultivated and semi-natural land prior to the implementation of the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; and if he will make a statement. [93734]

Mr. Morley

The Government are fully aware of the need to meet EU obligations arising from the EIA Directive. However, important questions which seek to clarify the exact nature of those obligations are currently being addressed by the European Court of Justice. These may well affect the preparatory work already carried out in close consultation with the statutory environmental agencies and other Agriculture Departments.

I share concern about the risk that some pre-emptive action might be taken during the necessary public consultation period. However, there can be no question of introducing an implementation regime without consulting representatives of those who will be directly affected by it, as well as conservation and other important public interests.