Attwood wants Crown Estate

Environment Minister Alex Attwood says he wants the functions of the Crown Estate - which owns the whole of the Lough Foyle seabed - devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Mr Attwood made the comments when pressed to state his position at the Stormont Assembly.

Back in 2009 the Foyle waterway was valued at £1,135,000 by the Crown Estate.

Figures from the Crown Estate’s valuation for 2009 showed income from Lough Foyle stood at £17,000, whilst income from the River Foyle stood at £44,500.

Moreover, the Crown Estate estimated the property value of Lough Foyle to be £242,000 and the property value of River Foyle to be £893,000.

Now Mr Attwood says he wants the Executive to take control of the Crown Estate.

He stated: “I am a strong advocate of the devolution to the Executive of powers held by London. I believe, as with Scotland and more than Scotland, this should be a key element in political developments over the next period.

“This includes the devolution of the administration and revenue of the Crown Estate.”