Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
The National Assembly for Wales
ORAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION
TABLED ON 29 MARCH 2000
FOR ANSWER BY THE SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT
ON 12 APRIL 2000
Q16. Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will she make a statement about sand dredging off Welsh waters. (OAQ4761)
Sue Essex: I refer you to my previous statement (OAQ 4137).
Sand dredged from licensed areas in the Bristol Channel provides an essential raw material for building products and construction projects in South Wales, where it accounts for more than 90% of all sand used.
I am well aware of public concern about dredging. That is why we have commissioned a major piece of research on the sand and gravel resources in the Bristol Channel, and the potential constraints on their extraction. We have also commissioned work on alternative sources of aggregates to dredged sand. I will consider the way forward in the light of the results.