§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that a drainage ditch dug on behalf of a Scottish firm of distillers upon Duich Moss site of special scientific interest, Strathclyde, extending outside phase 1 of the permitted development area, fulfils the conditions contained in letters dated 18 July and 18 December 1984 from his Department which were sent to the interested parties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramFollowing the discovery that a drainage ditch appeared to have been excavated in an area of Duich Moss outside phase 1 of the permitted development area, my Department wrote to Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. to seek their comments on this apparent breach of conditions laid down by my right hon. Friend in granting the company planning permission for the extraction of peat from the moss. The company's comments have recently been received and Argyll and Bute district council, the Nature Conservancy Council and the Greenland White-Fronted Goose Study have been invited to offer views on the points raised by the company to assist my right hon. Friend in his further consideration of the matter. Replies from these bodies are awaited.