To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many replies he received by 1 January to the groundwater consultation exercise following on the Hydrotechnica report on the side-effects of the Cardiff bay barrage; and when he expects Mr. Roy Stoner to complete his report on the groundwater consultation.

By 1 January 1992 a total of 140 representations to the groundwater consultation exercise had been received. I expect Mr. Stoner to complete his report as soon after the end of the consultation period as is consistent with the proper consideration of all the issues raised.