§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the loss of wildlife earlier this year on beaches between Portreath and Newquay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 17 October 1990]: I have no information of unusual losses of wildlife in the area this year. We know of 28 strandings over the past 12 months; three of which are broadly in the Portreath/Newquay area.
The one individual found in that area that has had a post mortem was obviously young, but suffering from severe parasitic infestation and wasting of the muscles, although (as is often the case) no obvious cause of death had been established. Samples suitable for contaminant analysis have been taken from this individual.