§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether permission has been granted to a private firm to dump 2,000 cu. m. of spoil off Bolt head; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryAn application for a licence to dump dredged material off Bolt head has been received and is under consideration.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to protect the coastal waters off South Devon from spoil dumping at sea.
§ Mr. CurryUnder the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 no disposal of dredged material is permitted without a licence. In determining whether to issue a licence for any site in England and Wales, the Ministry must have regard to the need to protect the marine environment, the living resources which it supports and human health, to the need to prevent interference with legitimate uses of the sea and to the practical availability of any alternative methods of dealing with the material.