§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about her policy with regard to inshore sand and gravel excavation; and whether environmentally sensitive areas will be protected. [67478]
§ Mr. McNultyI have been asked to answer.
There is no UK-wide policy on sand extraction.
Guidance on sand and gravel extraction from above mean low water in England is set out within Minerals Policy Guidance Notes 6 (MPG6) and 15 (MPG 15). Draft revised national estimates of demand, and indicative regional forecasts of supply, of construction aggregates within England for the period to 2016 will be published for public consultation during the summer. Consideration will be given to review of the policies in MPG6 and MPG 15 during 2003.
Proposed Government Policy for sand and gravel dredging from below mean low water in English waters was set out in Draft Marine Minerals Guidance Note 2: Guidance on the Extraction of Sand, Gravel and Other Minerals from the Seabed. This was published for public consultation in February 2001. It is intended that final guidance for English waters will be published within the next few weeks.
Policy and guidance on sand extraction in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.