§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of global warming in drawing up the guidance issued for determining applications for the extraction of marine aggregates. [133249]
§ Yvette CooperThe effects of global warming were not assessed during the preparation of Marine Minerals Guidance Note 1 (MMG1) published in July 2002. The progressive effects of climate change due to global warming on the marine environment are still relatively uncertain. However, at present, these appear to include rising sea levels, increased storminess, changes to sea floor habitats and modified behavioural patterns of marine organisms. These are all matters that can be taken into account, as appropriate and as knowledge increases, in the Environmental Statements that accompany each marine minerals dredging licence application. Each Environmental Statement is examined carefully and widely consulted upon before724W that application is determined. Licences for dredging of marine minerals are both time-limited and subject to conditions that include monitoring of the marine environment to ensure that action can be taken if unforeseen effects take place. As regards general policy, MMG1, as with all Government guidance, is subject to periodical review and to revision when necessary. Where the impacts of climate change both become more certain and are sufficiently significant to influence the stance of policy in these areas, the guidance can be revised to take them into account.
§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much marine aggregate has been extracted from UK coasts in the last 10 years; and what his assessment is of the total amount that may be removed within safe environmental limits. [133252]
§ Yvette CooperMost marine dredging for aggregate takes place over five kilometres away from the immediate vicinity of the coast. There is little extraction closer to the coast. The total amount of sand and gravel extracted for use as aggregate from all licensed areas in UK waters over the past 10 years is about 253.3 million tonnes. It is not possible to estimate with any certainty how much can be removed within safe environmental limits since the total size of the resource is not yet known. In addition, impacts on the sea-floor, marine currents and waves, habitats and uses of the sea all need to be assessed in detail, on a project-by-project basis, to establish whether any individual proposal is environmental acceptable. Each licence application is subject to an environmental impact assessment which includes a coastal impact study. This is the subject of careful analysis and wide consultation and, if necessary, additional investigations before a decision is taken. All licences that are issued by the Crown Estate are subject to conditions specified by Government to make sure that any environmental impacts are minimised. Licences are time-limited so that the position can be reconsidered if further dredging is proposed.