§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decrease there has been in the area of farms whose land borders on Lough Foyle between the estuary of the River Roe and Magilligan Point since statistics were first collected; and what is his estimate of the present-day value of the land lost during that period.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 3 April 1990]: The information requested is not available.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he(a) has had any survey carried out or (b) is aware of any other scientific survey of the intertidal zone off the shore of Lough Foyle between the estuary of the River Roe and Magilligan Point to determine whether that zone has experienced changes in the animal life and vegetation in the last 25 years; whether he has any record of changes in the type of beach from mud to sand; and what changes have been noted in the number and species of bird life in the area over these periods.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 3 April 1990]: The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has not undertaken, nor is it aware of other bodies having undertaken, any survey to determine changes in the animal life or vegetation of the intertidal zone between the Roe estuary and Magilligan point. The Department did commission a survey of the intertidal fauna of the entire Northern Ireland coastline. This was a baseline survey and did not refer to any previous work.
Bird counts have been undertaken by other bodies, but the Department does not have details of these counts and has no information on fluctuations in numbers of the various species. The Department does not have any record of changes in the type of beach from mud to sand.