§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on regulating impact assessments which have been carried out into the work of the Marine Consents Unit. [138551]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government's first Marine Stewardship Report announced a Review of Development in Marine and Coastal Waters. This included an examination of a range of marine controls, including those exercised by the Marine Consents and Environment Unit, from a regulatory perspective. A range of options for short-term and long-term reform are currently being considered. An announcement will be made in due course.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the regulatory impacts of the proposed spatial planning body within the Marine Consents Unit. [138552]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government's first Marine Stewardship Report contained a commitment to explore the role of spatial planning for the marine environment. This is being followed up in a number of workshops. There is currently no proposal for a spatial planning body within the Marine Consents Unit.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the review being conducted into the Marine Consents Unit. [138555]
§ Mr. MorleyNo review is being conducted into the Marine Consents Unit. However, the Government are currently undertaking a Review of Development in882W Marine and Coastal Waters to see how the complexity of the current regulatory control regime might be reduced. The review is being led by my noble Friend the Lord Rooker, Minister of State for Regeneration and Regional Development. The findings from the review will be announced in due course.