Written question asked by Helen Clark (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the impact of the pollution incident on the River Nene earlier in the year was on the invertebrate populations of Morton's Leam Special Area of Conservation; and whether the site has favourable conservation status.

Answer: Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the impact of the pollution incident on the River Nene earlier in the year was on the invertebrate populations of Morton's Leam Special Area of Conservation; and whether the site has favourable conservation status. [143263] Mr. Morley: Environment Agency monitoring of the Morton's Leam SAC shows no impact of this pollution incident on the Morton's Leam, which was surveyed in July 2003. The results showed a diverse and abundant invertebrate community and the biological data suggested excellent water quality. The key species impacted by the pollution on the River Nene, water hog louse (Asellus aquaticus) and freshwater shrimp (in this instance, Crangonyx pseudogracilis) were abundant in Morton's Leam. The results compare favourably with earlier surveys, which date back to 1985. The Nene washes (of which Morton's Leam are a part), have unfavourable and unchanged conservation status.

Secondary information