HC Deb 14 January 2002 vol 378 cc114-5W
Caroline Flint

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which rules prevent sites being nominated individually for candidate special area of conservation status; and if she will make a statement; [25288]

(2) what advice she has received from English Nature in respect of whether the information they have received from the Peat Producers Association concerning Hatfield Moors can be regarded as new scientific information; [25287]

(3) what the timetable is for the consultation relating to Hatfield Moors; what the original closing date for submissions was; on what dates supplementary evidence or scientific information was submitted by (a) the Peat Producers Association and (b) Scotts (UK) Ltd.; and on what dates meetings have been held between English Nature and the Peat Producers Association in relation to this consultation; [25285]

(4) what steps she will take to bring the consultation over Hatfield Moors proposed candidate special area conservation status to a conclusion. [25286]

Mr. Meacher

Candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are selected using the criteria set out in the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). There are no rules to prevent sites being nominated individually for candidate SAC status. The selection principles are set out in JNCC report 270, a copy of which is in the House Library. Site selection principles are set out at section 1.10 of that report, with clarification of the justification principles for individual or cluster sites at section 1.11.

English Nature, on behalf of the Department, are undertaking consultation on the proposed SAC for Hatfield Moors. Consultation began on 18 August with a request for comments by 11 October 2000. In the light of request for further information, and subsequent objections received on 5 April 2001, English Nature have continued discussions with the intention of resolving areas of disagreement. Two meetings have been held between English Nature and the Peat Producers Association, on 6 October 2000 and on 12 November 2001. Subsequent to the scientific views submitted on 5 April no supplementary scientific information specifically relating to Hatfield Moors has been provided to English Nature in the course of these discussions. However, various issues concerning the interpretation of the habitat type and the process of selecting sites including the application of the criteria in the directive have been raised during the discussion.

It is anticipated that English Nature's report on the consultation concerning Hatfield Moors together with any further scientific advice will be submitted in the near future.

Forward to