§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has recently received from Friends of the Earth Cymru concerning wetland areas in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [23182]
§ Mr. ClappisonNone. Friends of the Earth has sent a copy of its report, "A Review of UK Compliance with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance" to the Department's European wildlife division in Bristol.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the protection of wetland areas in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [23184]
§ Mr. ClappisonAs a party to the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance, the UK is committed to protecting wetlands and promoting their wise use. UK wetlands are protected through a combination of site-based and policy-based mechanisms. These are described in detail in the UK national report to the sixth meeting of the conference of the parties to the Ramsar convention, and planning policy guidance note No. 9 on nature conservation, copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the wetland areas in(a) England and (b) Wales which have been damaged over the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [23181]
§ Mr. ClappisonInformation on the UK's internationally important wetlands with recorded or predicted negative changes in ecological character is160W included in the UK national report to the sixth meeting of the conference of the parties to the Ramsar convention, a copy of which is in the Library.