asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of his examination of the problem, whether he will now provide Government funds to enable a concerted programme to be undertaken to combat the spread of sargassum muticum (Japanese seaweed).

My right hon. Friend will take a decision about Government action when he has been able to consider the advice, not yet to hand, of the Nature Conservancy Council on the recommendation for a research programme contained in the report of the Portsmouth Working Party.