§ Mr. Giles Shawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of his decision on Seal Sands, Teesside, he will make a statement on the Government's conservation policy particularly with regard to wetlands.
§ Mr. MarksThe United Kingdom is a party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, under which we have designated 13 sites of international importance, of which Seal Sands is not one. The Government seek to protect, as far as possible, wetland habitats of conservation interest, whether so designated or not. If it becomes necessary in the national interest to allow the development of such a site we shall seek to encourage measures to minimise the consequent loss of wetland resources.