asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware of the proposals to develop a new marina and extend an existing marina adversely affecting the Walton Backwaters Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in north east Essex, on what grounds this site was designated an SSSI by the Nature Conservancy Council, whether they Will confirm that these proposed developments would conflict with draft Essex structure plan and whether they will state what proportion of these marshes have already been damaged or destroyed from a nature conservation point of view since 1949 by agricultural reclamation and other changes.

I am advised that this Question relates to the Hamford Water SSSI. No proposals as described are at present before my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The SSSI was notified in 1956 by the then Nature Conservancy, primarily because of its national and international importance for wildfowl and waders. The district council will undoubtedly consider any application in the light of all relevant policies in the Essex structure plan, including those relating to the protection of the countryside, wildlife habitats and the development of water recreation facilities.In the 25 years since the SSSI was notified about 4.5 per cent. of its area (i.e. about 100 hectares) has been converted to agriculture and other use).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are now proposed, in the light of the Defence Review, to ensure that the Naval Hydrographer's non-naval work should now be funded by the Department of Trade or by another civil department.

The decisions announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 25th June do not entail any change in the present arrangements for funding the Hydrographer's activities. This does not rule out the possibility of alternative funding arrangements at some future date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they expect that Government scientists will have reached a conclusion about measures to conserve escallop stocks, such as the establishment of closed seasons for individual fisheries, by the end of the year.

Government scientists have a continuing programme of research into escallop stocks and it is difficult to predict when it might be possible to draw firm conclusions on the need for conservation measures. A research vessel is scheduled to make a further investigation into escallop stocks in September. The situation should be clearer when the results of the cruise have been analysed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For each quarter since January 1976, how many unemployed people were placed in work by the Employment Service, and what percentages these represent of those unemployed leaving the register during the same periods.

The information is as in the table below:—