European Habitats Directive

HC Deb 06 July 2000 vol 353 c261W

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of the European Habitats Directive. [128733]

Mr. Meacher

Last year, the Government submitted a list of 340 UK sites as candidate Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. The UK site list was, like those of other member states, criticised as inadequate by the European Commission in the autumn of last year. As a result, the country nature conservation agencies, co-ordinated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, have conducted a fundamental review of site selection. The advice arising from that review is currently being considered and I hope to be able to make an announcement on a revised site list soon.