HL Deb 12 May 1987 vol 487 cc622-4WA
Baroness Nicol

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are aware of Wessex Water Authority's proposal for a land drainage scheme for the River Yeo, affecting King's Moor, Wet Moor and Witcombe Bottom; whether they will confirm whether or not this scheme would detrimentally affect the Somerset Levels and Moors' Environmentally Sensitive Area; and, whether in the light of this scheme, they will now issue the revised DoE/MAFF/WOAD section 48 Land Drainage and Conservation Guidance Notes as a matter of urgency.

Whether they will list the objectives of the Wessex Water Authority's proposed River Yeo Improvement Scheme, summarise the cost-benefit appraisal of the scheme and detail the anticipated increase in agricultural production which would result from it.

What discussions their officials have had with Wessex Water Authority with respect to the proposed River Yeo Improvement Scheme, and whether they have received an application for grant-aid for this project.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)

Her Majesty's

Government are aware that Wessex Water Authority is working out a land drainage proposal for the River Yeo—but at this early stage contact with Government officials has been brief and of a purely general character. I regret, therefore, that I can offer no information on the detailed matters raised in these questions. So far as any effect on the Somerset Levels and Moors' Environmentally Sensitive Area is concerned, however, I am informed that the authority is developing its proposal in discussion with national and local conservation organisations. The Government's revised guidelines on drainage authorities' responsibilities under Section 48 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will be issued in the summer.