§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the Jeffrye bog near Malton in Yorkshire was notified as a site of special scientific interest; and whether there have been any operations not authorised by the Nature Conservancy Council since then which may have damaged its scientific interest;
(2) if the damage which has occurred at the Jeffrye bog, near Malton in Yorkshire occurred during the three months' consultation period preceding designation, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that Jeffrye bog was notified as a site of special scientific interest on 13 January 1984. I regret to say that the site was damaged during the three-month consultation period prior to notification and that further damage has occurred since then. The Nature Conservancy Council is currently assessing whether the scientific interest of the site has been permanently damaged.