HC Deb 12 July 2000 vol 353 c557W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what area of land in the South-east planning area is designated for its(a) intrinsic environmental value of international importance, (b) intrinsic environmental value of national importance, (c) landscape value and (d) cultural value. [129073]

Mr. Raynsford

Within London and the South East, areas designated for their intrinsic environmental value of international importance amount to 92,235 hectares designated under the Ramsar Convention and 98,800 hectares designated Special Protection Areas and candidate Special Areas of Conservation. Areas designated as being of national importance, namely National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, amount to 13,780 hectares and 135,600 hectares respectively. Over 7,000 square kilometres are designated areas of landscape value, namely Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the New Forest Heritage Area. In addition there are five World Heritage Sites and over 3,270 Ancient Scheduled Monuments.