Written question asked by Doug Naysmith (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 March 2001. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 March 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to ensure that English Nature has acted under the terms of the European Union Habitats Directive regarding the protection of estuarial features under the terms of the European Union Habitats Directive where their action leads to the designation of an entire estuary; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that English Nature has acted under the terms of the European Union habitats directive regarding the protection of estuarial features under the terms of the European Union habitats directive where their action leads to the designation of an entire estuary; and if he will make a statement. [151989] Mr. Robert Ainsworth: English Nature were asked by Government to identify sites hosting habitats listed in Annex I of the habitats directive; estuaries are one of the listed habitats. In considering such sites English Nature have used the European Commission's own Interpretation Manual for guidance. The nature conservation agencies' advice is that estuaries are complex ecosystems containing many interdependent components within which other Annex I listed habitats are represented. Consequently, boundaries have been drawn to protect the form and function of the entire estuarine ecosystem necessary for its long-term maintenance.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 151989; 364 c147W;364 c147-8W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Coastal areas EU law Estuaries Nature conservation English Nature Special areas of conservation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk