PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Nature Conservation: EU Law (14 January 2016)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the 28 measures identified on pages four to six of her Department's publication, Report of the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives Implementation Review, published in March 2012, what steps she has taken to implement each of those measures.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Defra reviewed the implementation of the Habitats Directive in 2012. A progress report against the delivery of the 28 measures identified can be found below.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/progress-of-the-habitats-directive-implementation-review

We are continuing to work closely with Natural England and business and conservation organisations to further improve our implementation of the Directives. For example, Natural England is working with Woking Borough Council on a strategic plan for great crested newt conservation, which will protect and enhance newt populations whilst reducing burdens on housing developments.

We are also engaging fully in the European Commission’s REFIT review of the nature directives. Our response to its consultation can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/index_en.htm

Answered by:
Rory Stewart (Independent)
19 January 2016