Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (a) how many and what proportion of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) for which the Ministry of Defence has management responsibility are in favourable condition and (b) what steps he plans to take to bring SSSIs in unfavourable condition into favourable condition.

The UK defence estate includes 174 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering 82,232 hectares. SSSIs are designated and assessed differently between all four nations.

In England 48.4% of the hectares are deemed by Natural England to be in Favourable condition.

In Wales, 41% of the hectares is deemed by Natural Resources Wales to be in Appropriate Conservation Management.

Scotland has 14 SSSIs covering 5,944 hectares, this includes 115 separate SSSI features with 93.9% deemed by NatureScot to be in Favourable condition.

Northern Ireland includes two Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) covering 1089 hectares. This includes 12 separate ASSI features, ten of which are deemed by Northern Ireland Environment Agency to be in a Favourable condition with 2 in an Unfavourable recovering condition

The MOD SSSI Condition Improvement Project has been in place for over ten years to deliver improvements in the condition of SSSIs across the defence estate. MOD is investing £1.2 million directly into managing MOD SSSIs in this financial year. Currently in England 97% of sites are assessed as favourable or recovering condition.