asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the written answer by the Baroness Crawley to the Countess of Mar on 28 January (WA 98), when the 38-page witness statement and the accompanying evidential material including maps, plans and signed affidavits sent to Lord Mills of the Environment Agency Wales, and receipted by him on or about 9 May 2007, were returned to Mr Gowan; what evidence they have that the documents were dispatched, and what evidence they have that they were received by Mr Gowan. [HL2008]

The Environment Agency has no record of having received an original sworn 38-page witness statement and accompanying material. An electronic unsigned version of the witness statement was e-mailed by Mr Gowan to Chris Mills, regional director of the Environment Agency Wales, on the 9 May 2007. Chris Mills has acknowledged receipt of that e-mail.