§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects scheduling of the Severn estuary as a site of special scientific interest to be completed.
§ Mr. MoynihanIn 1987, 1,437 hectares of the upper Severn estuary were notified as a site of special scientific interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. With effect from 5 February this area was classified as a special protection area under the EC wild birds directive and as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention. The Nature Conservancy Council is working on the notification of the remaining areas of special scientific interest and hopes to complete the notification during the summer.