§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Countryside Council for Wales concerning the exclusion of the Cardiff bay site of special scientific interest from the special protection area under the European Community wild birds directive for the lower Severn estuary.
§ Mr. David HuntMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I reached our decision following careful consideration of a proposal submitted by the then Nature Conservancy Council, one of the predecessor bodies to the Countryside Council for Wales. The council has been fully consulted about the future of Cardiff bay in the context of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written representations he has received concerning the groundwater effects of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage as part of the public consultation exercise running from 25 September to 25 December.
§ Mr. David HuntNone, but we are not yet half way through the three-month consultation period which ends on 31 December.