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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the Government since 1997 in strengthening the legislative protection afforded to sites of special scientific interest. [97135] Mr. Morley: The legislative protection afforded to sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) in England was significantly strengthened by Part III of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000. The Act became law on 30 January 2001. The amendments introduced include: provisions that enable English Nature to exercise greater control over activities that may affect SSSIs by refusing, modifying or applying conditions to consents as appropriate; a power for English Nature to secure the management of a SSSI; improved procedures for notification and denotification of SSSIs; various rights of appeal to owners and occupiers of land who are affected by the Act's provisions; increased powers of entry to land for English Nature and extended powers of compulsory purchase; increased penalties for damage to a SSSI by owners and occupiers and new offences for damage to a SSSI by other people, including public bodies; a new power for English Nature to make byelaws to protect SSSIs; new duties on public bodies and statutory bodies in respect of SSSIs; and, restrictions on public bodies and statutory bodies when they carry out or authorise activities which affect a SSSI.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

97135; 399 c886W;399 c882W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Protection Nature conservation Sites of special scientific interest

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk