Lower Severn Estuary

HC Deb 26 October 1993 vol 230 cc535-6W

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the completion of his consultations with English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales and private landowners and others on the preparation of the lower Severn estuary proposed special protection area under the wild birds directive, 1979.

Mr. Yeo

The Government consider that co-operation with owners and occupiers is vital if wildlife habitats are to

Housing Investment Programme (HIP) bids, allocations and gross housing capital expenditure in Lancashire
£thousand/percentage
	HIP bids	HIP Allocation1	Allocation percentage of bid	Housing capital expenditure
Blackburn
1991–92	23,193	7,558	32.6	11,937
1992–93	25,174	6,684	26.6	211,467
1993–94	30,589	8,093	26.5	314,915
Blackpool
1991–92	4,326	2,832	65.5	3,727

be protected. Detailed consultations are therefore conducted to ensure that any conflicts of interest are closely examined, together with the scientific evidence. The Severn estuary is included in the accelerated designation programme on which the Government are currently working. I am unable to say when consultations on this particular site will be completed.