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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Written Statement of 12 January 2016, HCWS 462, on December Environment Council, what steps she plans to take to improve the implementation of EU Nature Directives.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

The REFIT review of the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives is due to conclude in spring 2016. We will work with other EU Member States to identify how we can best work together to improve implementation of the Directives in the light of the Commission’s conclusions.

We are continuing to work closely with Natural England and business and conservation organisations to further improve our domestic 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.

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/great-crested-newt-pilot-scheme-in-woking-opportunity-to-comment

Answered by:
Rory Stewart (Independent)
19 January 2016