To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he first received advice from English Nature recommending the Severn estuary as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive; and when he expects to notify the European Commission of the Government’ intention to designate the Severn estuary as a Special Area of Conservation. (152925)

My Department received advice from Natural England recommending the Severn Estuary as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive on 9 October 2006. On 31 August 2007 the Government submitted the Severn estuary to the Commission as a candidate Special Area of Conservation for adoption as a Site of Community Interest. Once the site has been adopted by the Commission, expected to be in October 2008, the UK is required to designate it as a Special Area of Conservation as soon as possible.