Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 17 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 March 2004. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 March 2004 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what environmental criteria he requires to be met before authorising the removal of aggregates from the sea bed.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what environmental criteria he requires to be met before authorising the removal of aggregates from the sea bed. [162901] Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister gives careful and detailed consideration to all marine minerals dredging proposals and will only approve them once fully satisfied that there will be no significant harm to the marine environment and no harm to the coastline. A Coastal Impact Study must be produced for each proposal. All applications are subject to Environmental Impact Assessment and must be accompanied by an Environmental Statement. Each application is subject to wide publicity and consultation with, amongst others, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), DEFRA's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquatic Science (CEFAS), the Environment Agency and English Nature.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 419 c904-5W;419 c906-7W; 162901
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Coastal areas Aggregates Environmental impact assessment Seas and oceans Dredging
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk