§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from south Wales ports and their fairways to be used in place of the sand and gravel dredged off the south Wales coast for use in the building industry, instead of being dumped at sea.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe majority of material dredged from harbours and ports is not suitable for use in the building industry and it would not, therefore be appropriate for Government policy to require it to be used in place of sand and gravel dredged off the coast.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from south Wales's ports and fairways to be used for combating coastal erosion on certain beaches and mudflats.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, issues licences under the Food and Environment Act 1985 for the disposal of dredged material at sea around the Welsh and English coastlines. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. For my part, I am encouraging bodies with coastal defence responsibilities to liaise with port authorities to see whether acceptable arrangements can be made to use such dredged material for combating coastal erosion.