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 Marine Management Organisation has taken to safeguard the marine environment from damage by cable laying involving the SCAR plough system and similar technologies.

Should such activities require a marine licence from the MMO, a number of steps are taken to ensure the protection of the marine environment is adequately considered. The potential environmental impacts of any licensable activity are a material consideration under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. All decisions should be made in accordance with the UK Marine Policy Statement or relevant Marine Plan, and be in compliance with relevant legislation. Where mitigation is required to reduce potential impacts these can be secured through marine licence conditions.