§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will permit the mussel purification centre in Conwy to remain open until alternative arrangements can be made; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will explain the reasons for the closure of the mussel purification centre at Benarth road, Conwy; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what financial assistance his Department will give to establish modern mussel purification facilities in Conwy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Conwy mussel purification centre was closed at the end of the 1993–94 season because it does not comply with the minimum European Union standards for construction and hygiene set out in the Food Safety (Live Bivalve Mollusc and Other Shellfish) Regulations 1992. For the same reasons, the facilities cannot be temporarily reopened. The Welsh Office has been in contact with representatives of the local shellfish industry to offer advice on the availability of financial assistance from United Kingdom and EC sources for any private sector project to establish a new purification facility.