§ 21. Mr. Rees-Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals the Government have for research designed to prevent and destroy the growth of seaweed along United 862W Kingdom shores; and what financial provision will be made to local authorities to assist in its prevention and removal.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI am sponsoring research with the aim of finding means of controlling Japanese seaweed which has become established in the Solent. My Department has no evidence from its contacts with local authorities and other Government Departments that this seaweed has become established outside that area, or that any other form of seaweed is posing significant problems. Expenditure by a local authority on dealing with seaweed affecting its area would count as relevant expenditure for the purposes of rate support grant.