§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they propose to take against those who ploughed up, on 27 and 28 December 2004 and 3 January 2005, the bird grounds at Strangford Lough which are known as North Mud Flats and which are protected as an area of special scientific interest. [HL831]
§ Baroness AmosThe Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service [EHS] is carrying out investigations into the damage which occurred on 27 and 28 December 2004 and 3 January 2005 on lands, known as the North Mud Flats, that are within the Strangford Lough area of special scientific interest.
EHS will assess the evidence gathered through these investigations with a view to referring a case file to the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on the appropriateness of bringing this matter before the courts as an offence under the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.