§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he was consulted over the arrangement to extract peat from Glassan Moss, Wedholme Flow, Thame and Hatfield Moors, and Somerset Levels by Fisons plc and English Nature; and when he first knew of the arrangement.
§ Mr. Heseltine[holding answer 6 February 1992]: I have been aware for some considerable time of the confidential negotiations between English Nature and Fisons plc. The final agreement, by which Glasson Moss, Wedholme Flow, Thorne and Hatfield Moors, and Shapwick Heath and Westhay Moor in the Somerset Levels would be handed over by Fisons at no cost to English Nature, was 509W reached over the Christmas period. The chairman and chief executive of English Nature briefed the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 7 January.