Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if will he place in the Library a copy of the environmental impact statements for the UK-sponsored exploration contracts relating to seabed mining for the (a) Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (I) and (b) Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (II).

No activities have taken place or are planned in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone under UK-sponsored exploration contracts for seabed mining which have required the production of an environmental impact assessment.

The exploitation of minerals in the deep sea cannot take place until International Seabed Authority regulations and environmental impact assessment process have been agreed.