§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 29 November (WA 134), whether, with regard to the European Commission's request to submit additional sites as potential Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas, the Commission acted in accordance with Article 5 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community and in particular with respect to the "scale and effect" of the proposal. [HL43]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)The Commission's request for member states to submit additional sites arose in the context of its general duty under Article 211 to ensure that the Treaty and legislation made thereunder is properly applied. Article 5 of the Treaty is not relevant in these circumstances.