Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average change in (a) costs and (b) completion time of construction projects as a result of licences granted to protect great crested newts under the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, in each year since 2007.
Answered by George Eustice
In June 2013, Natural England introduced modifications to their licensing procedures for great crested newts. The savings to applicants until the end of November 2014 are estimated at £276,000.
Delays avoided by applicants through the use of this approach to licensing, over the same period, is estimated as 1,104 weeks.
Prior to 2013, no estimate has been made of the difference in costs and completion times.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many great crested newt licences have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in each year since 2007.
Answered by George Eustice
Information on great crested newt mitigation licences prior to 2008 is not readily available. Licence applications received in one calendar year for work to be carried out the next year may not have been processed until early the following year.
The figures for new licences are:
Applications | Licences granted | |
2008 | 133 | 100 |
2009 | 193 | 195 |
2010 | 219 | 227 |
2011 | 195 | 205 |
2012 | 226 | 185 |
2013 | 239 | 255 |
2014 | 269 | 249 |
The following applications to modify an existing licence were also made:
Applications to modify an existing licence | Modified licences granted | |
2008 | 104 | 77 |
2009 | 217 | 176 |
2010 | 218 | 178 |
2011 | 191 | 151 |
2012 | 226 | 171 |
2013 | 308 | 220 |
2014 | 229 | 247 |
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of great crested newts in England in each year since 2007.
Answered by George Eustice
Great crested newt populations show large natural fluctuations and it is not possible or appropriate to estimate the actual numbers. Instead, great crested newts are monitored by assessing the number of ponds that they occupy. In 2011 it was estimated that there were approximately 53,720 occupied ponds.