PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Marine Protected Areas (6 December 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2017 to Question 115500, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Scottish Government on Marine Protected Areas which remain outstanding and the Government of Wales on that government's plans for a separate Marine Conservation Zone process.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Public consultation prior to designation is a legal requirement under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. This has not yet happened. The consultation is due to start in the first half of 2018, with designation taking place within 12 months and is expected to happen in 2019.

The responsibility for marine protected areas is devolved. The Devolved Administrations keep each other and Defra informed of their plans for marine protected areas.

Answered by:
Dr Thérèse Coffey (Conservative)
14 December 2017