HL Deb 16 January 1989 vol 503 cc88-9WA
Baroness Nicol

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received a communication from the European Community concerning the likely impact of the proposed Cardiff Bay barrage on migratory birds; and whether they will state the nature of such a communication and their response.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)

There has been correspondence between the European Commission and Her Majesty's Government regarding the proposal to build a barrage across the mouth of the Taff-Ely Estuary. It is not the usual practice to reveal the contents of such correspondence.

Baroness Nicol

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether and to what extent they have received advice concerning the fate of dunlin and other wild bird species, which would be displaced from the Taff-Ely estuary following the construction of the proposed Cardiff Bay barrage.

Lord Trefgarne

The Government are aware of the importance of the Taff-Ely estuary and at an early stage commissioned the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology to undertake a study of the effect of a barrage on over-wintering shorebirds. The report was completed in October 1986 and a copy is available in the Library of the House. The promoters of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill have commissioned further detailed studies regarding the feasibility of providing alternative feeding grounds, and the reports from these studies have also been placed in the Library. The Bill, as deposited. includes detailed provisions for the creation of such feeding grounds.

Baroness Nicol

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they or their officials have seen the videogram "Half a Million Dunlin Dinners", which outlined the likely environmental implications of constructing the proposed Cardiff Bay barrage, and whether they will comment on the views expressed in the programme.

Lord Trefgarne

Studies have been commissioned from experts on the implications of the barrage, which have been carefully considered by the promoters of the Bill and by Government. The reports from these studies are available in the Library. Neither Ministers nor Welsh Office officials have seen a copy of the videogram, and I can therefore offer no comment on that.