To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if all sites of special scientific interest in Scotland will be designated as special areas for conservation under the EC directive on the conservation of species and habitats (92/43/EEC); and when he expects the designation process to commence.

No. Only a proportion of sites of special scientific interest will be of Community importance and thus candidates for designation as special areas of conservation within the terms of the directive. The designation process will commence after June 1998 by which date the European Commission and member states must agree the list of sites to be designated.