HC Deb 26 April 1994 vol 242 c109W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he replied to the letter from Mr. Paleokrassas, the Member of the European Commission for the Environment, sent to him on 21 January in relation to the legality issue and the proposal for a barrage at Cardiff bay; if he has received any further communication from Mr. Paleokrasses; and on what date.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 25 April 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 March, Official Report, column 643.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the European Union in relation to the provision of alternative wetland habitats for birds displaced from the Cardiff bay site of special scientific interest by the proposed Cardiff bay barrage.

Mr. Atkins

As the hon. Member knows, such negotiations are confidential.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission jointly with the Environment Directorate of the European Commission an independent research study evaluating the socio-economic arguments for the Cardiff bay barrage proposal; and if he will seek an independent assessment of the definition of overwhelming as applied to the socio-economic argument under the habitats directive.

Mr. Atkins

No.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what agreements have been made with the European Commission, consistent with article 6(4) of the habitats directive, regarding measures to be implemented to compensate for the loss of mud-flat habitat at Cardiff bay.

Mr. Atkins

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 1 March,Official Report, column 643.