Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that (a) national parks and (b) other public open spaces can be accessed to improve people's health and wellbeing.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government is taking a number of steps to encourage and ensure public access to parks, and green spaces more generally, now and more so in the future, to enhance health and wellbeing.
Over the summer we worked with stakeholders to plan and problem solve the easing of restrictions and funded a bespoke multi-media campaign that encouraged access to the outdoors and in a safe and responsible manner. This period saw a significant rise in visitor numbers to green and blue spaces as well as to membership of outdoor activities’ organisations.
We are working to complete the England Coast Path and to support our network of National Trails, and intend to create a new National Trail across the North of England. We are ensuring that rights of way are recorded and protected, as well as developing ways to support access through the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Marine Maritime Organisation and (b) Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Association to enforce compliance of fishing regulations in relation to sea bass fishing by commercial netters.
Answered by George Eustice
There are eleven ongoing formal MMO investigations into bass related infringements. Some IFCAs are also currently undertaking work to introduce netting restriction byelaws in their Districts, intended to protect a wide variety of marine resources including juvenile fish, which will include bass.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Marine Maritime Organisation and (b) Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Association to enforce compliance of fishing regulations in relation to sea bass fishing by commercial netters.
Answered by George Eustice
There are eleven ongoing formal MMO investigations into bass related infringements. Some IFCAs are also currently undertaking work to introduce netting restriction byelaws in their Districts, intended to protect a wide variety of marine resources including juvenile fish, which will include bass.