Hansard

Written Answers

Volume 458: debated on Tuesday 15 January 1985

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Written Answers

Prevention Of Terrorism Act: Operation

Lord Henderson of Brompton

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have appointed a person to report annually on the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

The Minister of State, Home Office
(Lord Elton)

I am pleased to say that Sir Cyril Philips has accepted this apointment. We hope to receive his first report next month.

Super-748: Proposed Liat Purchase

a) What steps they are taking to induce the European Community Development Commission to review their decision not to make a grant towards the purchase by Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) of four British Aerospace Super-748 aircraft; and

( b) Should the European Community Development Commission decline to do this, whether Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to contribute towards the necessary funding through the Caribbean Development Bank for the purchase of these aircraft.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Baroness Young)

The Caribbean authorities have themselves decided not to pursue European Development Fund assistance for the purchase of aircraft. On 13th December the Caribbean Development Bank approved a loan for two aircraft from their own concessional resources, to which the United Kingdom makes a substantial contribution. LIAT is now considering how to meet its further requirements and we have offered aid towards the purchase of another two Super HS 748s. This offer was made in the light of a concessional package proposed by the Canadians for Dash aircraft. The LIAT board of directors will consider its option in detail at the end of this month.

The Earl of Kimberley

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will call for an inquiry into the way in which the European Community Development Commission have conducted their consideration of the application by Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) and the Caribbean Development Bank for funding for the purchase of four new aircraft.

Baroness Young

We have asked the Commission to make public their reasons for rejecting LIAT's economic analysis, which was endorsed by the Caribbean Development Bank.

Sssis: Ornithological Evaluation

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Nature Conservancy Council have detailed scientific criteria for evaluating possible Sites of Special Scientific Interest on their ornithological interest alone; if so, whether they will reproduce in the

Official Report a summary of those criteria including any mechanism for assessing the ornithological richness and diversity of specific habitat types such as moorlands, heathlands and woodlands; and whether they will confirim that sites which meet these criteria have been or will be notified as SSSI by the Nature Conservancy Council.

Lord Skelmersdale

A copy of the NCC's explanatory pamphlet The Selection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which sets out the basic criteria for the selection of SSSIs, has been placed in the Library of the House. The criteria for considering sites of ornithological importance are set out below in summary form:

  • (a) Breeding aggregations and localities of very rare species (well defined localities which have contained 1 per cent. or more of the total British population for five years or more).
  • (b) Small isolated sea-bird colonies (most are of special international importance because of the breeding bird population involved; notification of smaller or more isolated colonies (those of more than 10 pairs) depends on their geographical location).
  • (c) Feeding and/or roosting areas of winter migrants and birds of passage (well-established, well defined localities which regularly contain 1 per cent. or more of the total British wintering population).
  • (d) Variety of species (well defined localities of semi-natural habitats regularly containing more than 65 breeding, or 90 wintering, species).
  • (e) Breeding communities (an index figure is used based on a points system related to 175 British breeding species. The total points for all breeding species on a site are matched against standard values for different types of habitat such as moorland, heathland and woodland).
  • (f) Miscellaneous scientific value (eg, well established breeding sites of certain species listed in the First Schedule to the Protection of Birds Act 1954—where not covered by other criteria).
    • The NCC has a duty to notify all sites where the council is of the opinion that the site meets the selection criteria.