§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that wildlife which is dependent on the mudflats and grazing marsh of the Thames upstream of Gravesend and Tilbury is fully protected; and if he will make a statement. [29864]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe most important areas for wildlife, West Thurrock lagoon and marshes and the inner Thames marshes, are notified as sites of special scientific interest. All areas of inter-tidal mud are acknowledged as being important for wildlife in the Thurrock borough local plan, deposit draft, and in the respective London boroughs' unitary development plans to varying degrees and are so annotated. A partnership of the main managers of the Thames has worked together to produce a Thames estuary management plan which will be launched for public consultation shortly. This inter-disciplinary plan is in line with recommendations in the UK biodiversity action plan to which the Government responded on 15 May, Cm. 3260.