§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his latest discussions about Japanese seaweed with local authorities bordering the Solent and Christchurch Bay; and what steps he is recommending to cure the problem generally, and in Mudeford particularly.
§ Mr. MarksIn July 1975 the Department commissioned Portsmouth Polytechnic to undertake a three-year protechnic to undertake a three-year research programme on Japanese seaweed. I regret that I am not yet in a position to recommend any general means of dealing with the problem. The local authorities concerned have been kept in touch with the progress of this research through joint working parties and the Department will be writing to them about the current position in the near future.