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Written question asked by Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 30 November 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 December 2020. It was answered by Rebecca Pow (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 December 2020 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Seabed: Bomb Disposal

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many unexploded munitions on the seafloor have been disposed of by detonation in each of the last five years.

Answer

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for licensing marine activities in the seas around England, including the removal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from the seabed. In determining any application for a marine licence, the MMO considers all relevant matters including the need to protect the marine environment. This involves assessing any potential impacts on marine life under an environmental assessment. Such assessments are made on the specifics of each case and involve consultation with the MMO’s primary advisors, including Natural England.

In the last five years, the MMO has received, assessed and issued nine marine licences involving the removal of UXOs from the seabed.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
122653
Session
2019-21
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Bomb disposal Seabed
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk