HC Deb 06 January 2004 vol 416 c255W
Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Dee Cockle Regulation Order to be implemented. [144780]

Mr. Bradshaw

Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government will act jointly to make a single Regulating Order under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 once the prospective grantee, the Environment Agency Wales, is in a position to submit a formal application for the order. The agency is in the process of obtaining written consents from landowners and it will forward an application when these are received.

We will ensure that the application is processed as quickly as possible under the terms of the 1967 Act but the process can take up to two years.