§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can confirm that the local contractor on Islay who has been supplying Scottish Malt Distillers Limited with peat for over 10 years has at least 12 years' wheat peat of the same quality still available, and the promise of more land for peat cutting once these supplies are exhausted; and whether they agree that this tends to confirm that there are no social or economic factors that could require Scottish Malt Distillers to destroy the Duich Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest by extracting peat from it; and
Whether they will confirm that Scottish Malt Distillers have recently told the local contractor on Islay, who has supplied them with peat for over 10 years, that they do not require any further peat from him for a period of two years as they wish to use up their existing stock of peat at their Port Ellen Maltings, and whether they agree that this tends to confirm that there are no social or economic factors that could require Scottish Malt Distillers to destroy the Duich Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest by extracting peat from it.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)These are matters for Scottish Malt Distillers and the contractor concerned. As the noble Lord is aware, the determining issue in the decision of my right honourable and learned friend and the Secretary of State for Scotland was whether the proposed peat workings would have a detrimental effect on the nature conservation interest of the site. His conclusion was that the proposed development would not have a significant adverse effect if undertaken with appropriate care.