§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received any proposals involving the further lowering of the water table in the area of the West Sedgemoor (Somerset) Internal Drainage Board; and what consultations he is having about the effect such proposals would have upon nature conservation in the area involved.
§ Mrs. FennerThe choice of water levels in the boards area is a matter for the board itself and the Wessex water authority. Those authorities are understood to be in consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the West Sedgemoor (Somerset) Internal Drainage Board and the Wessex Water Authority have lowered the penning level of water on the moor since 1980.
§ Mrs. FennerThe pre-1980 level is currently being maintained. A 6in reduction in 1980 was restored in 1981.