§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the environmental assessment regimes for afforestation, land drainage, salmon farming, harbours, electricity lines, pipe-lines and applications under the Transport and Works Act 1992 comply with EU Directive 97/11 on environmental assessment. [86049]
§ Mr. RaynsfordResponsibility for the consent regimes referred to in this question falls to five Government Departments. For convenience, I am replying on behalf of the other Departments as well as my Department.
Directive 97/11/EC amends Directive 85/337/EEC on environmental impact assessment. The amended procedures have been applied to land drainage projects which require planning permission and to fish farming in marine waters, which includes salmon farming.
Regulations to implement the amended Directive for the other consent regimes have yet to be finalised but these should come into force by the end of the year. Meanwhile extant regulations ensure that projects considered under these consent regimes are subject to environmental impact assessment before they may proceed. Pending entry into force of the amending regulations, administrative arrangements provide for the additional requirements of Directive 97/11/EC to be complied with in most cases.