§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent guidelines she has issued to protect sand beaches from excessive erosion caused by the actions of the sand dredging industry. [35634]
§ Ms KeebleI have been asked to reply.
Draft policy guidance on the extraction of sand and gravel from the English sea bed was published for public consultation in February 2001. This explains the existing requirement for a coastal impact study to be undertaken as part of the application procedure to obtain a licence to dredge for minerals. These studies need to consider, among other matters, the potential for the extraction activity to cause coastal erosion. If this suggests unavoidable risk of coastal erosion, the application is refused.
The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for dredging in Welsh waters.