Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 February 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 February 2008. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Monday, 18 February 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Nature Conservation: Lyme Bay

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to protect the marine biodiversity of Lyme Bay.

Answer: We have recently consulted on proposals to protect the biodiversity of Lyme bay. The consultation sought the views of all interested parties on three proposed options to deliver protection for marine biodiversity in the bay. It also invited respondents to suggest further options to provide protection for the bay's marine biodiversity and raised a number of specific questions concerning related conservation and economic matters.Consultation closed on 21 December 2007 and we are now urgently considering people's responses. Once this process has concluded, and a summary of consultation responses has been published, an announcement will be made concerning any further measures to protect marine biodiversity at Lyme bay.

Secondary information