HC Deb 20 May 1992 vol 208 cc146-7W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to designate wetland sites in the Solent and adjoining waters under the Ramsar convention.

Mr. Maclean

Preparation of a case for designation of Southampton Water and the Solent as a Ramsar site and special protection area is part of the work programme agreed between English Nature, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Department of Environment. However, English Nature is unlikely to be in a position to make a formal recommendation before 1993–94.