§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has received a report from the Nature Conservancy Council in respect of the proposed designation of the estuaries of the Rivers Stour and Orwell as special protection areas under the European Community directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC); and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has yet received a report from the Nature Conservancy Council in respect of the proposed designation of the estuaries of the Rivers Stour and Orwell as a site for listing under the Ramsar convention on the conservation of wetlands of international importance especially as a waterfowl habitat; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldA report from the NCC proposing designation of this site under both directive 79/409/EEC and the Ramsar convention was received earlier this year. Consultations with other interested Government Departments are currently in progress and a decision will be made as soon as possible.