§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department takes to seek to prevent fishing in the spoil ground off Cloch lighthouse in the Firth of Clyde; and what steps it takes to ensure that material dumped there does not migrate away from the designated spoil ground.
19W
§ Mr. John MacKayThe disposal site off the Cloch lighthouse is a recognised dumping ground which is regularly used for dredged spoil. It is charted and well known to fishermen, who normally avoid that area.
Experience has shown that dredged spoil sinks to the seabed in this comparatively deep water dump site and marine scientists from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland are satisfied that provided the operation is properly controlled, dumped material will not spread beyond the designated area.