HC Deb 24 March 2004 vol 419 cc906-7W
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, among 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.