§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the impact of the proposed extraction of gravel from the Thames estuary on(a) juvenile fish stocks, (b) cockles and (c) whiteweed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe proposal envisages the removal of a layer of silt material in order to extract aggregate from beneath it. In the Ministry's view this extraction process could create a plume of silt in the water column, which would be damaging to important commercial fisheries in the area.
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the fishing industry on the proposed extraction of gravel from the Thames estuary by Civil and Marine Ltd.
§ Mr. CurryI have received a number of representations objecting to the extraction of gravel from this area. I understand that in the light of consultations the company is not pursuing its application for a licence for experimental dredging.