Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the non-military development agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Government that applies to the sovereign base areas, what his timescale is for issuing a management plan and correct zoning plan for the Akrotiri Peninsula that addresses development pressures.
Answered by James Heappey
No decisions on the future timing of new management plans have been taken yet.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Cyprus Environment Department Strategic Environmental Assessment opinion regarding the Non Military Development Policy statement that applies to the sovereign base areas, for what reason provision for isolated housing and large tourism developments is included in the policy statement in the context of the high biodiversity value and sensitivity of those areas.
Answered by James Heappey
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously, however, no final decisions on the new Non-Military Development Policy Statement have been taken yet.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Cyprus Environment Department Strategic Environmental Assessment opinion regarding the Non Military Development Policy statement that applies to the sovereign base areas, whether the Chief Officer’s final decision on the agreement will reflect that of the Republic of Cyprus's Environment Department Strategic Environmental Assessment decision.
Answered by James Heappey
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously, however, no final decisions on the new Non-Military Development Policy Statement have been taken yet.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the non-military development agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Government that applies to the sovereign base areas, what environmental assessment was undertaken when that agreement was signed in 2014.
Answered by James Heappey
An environmental assessment was not conducted, when the high-level Non-Military Development (NMD) agreement was signed in 2014. Following the development of the Planning Policy Statement and the Proposed Zoning, a Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment and an Environmental Appropriate Assessment has since been conducted. The Environment Department of the Republic of Cyprus is currently considering both of these assessments. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration is now awaiting a written opinion on these environmental matters, before moving to the next stage of the NMD programme.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the non-military development agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Government that applies to the sovereign base areas, what discussions his Department has had with local stakeholders in the Akrotiri Peninsula in respect of the (a) development and (b) delivery of that agreement.
Answered by James Heappey
Prior to and during the Public Consultation on the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken to assess the impacts of the proposed Non-Military Development (NMD) zoning, Sovereign Base Area Administration (SBAA) officials had regular engagement with Non-Governmental Organisations, the community and the elected community leader of Akrotiri on SBAA proposals and community requests in respect of the environmental impact, zoning and related matters affecting the Akrotiri community. The Administration has also co-operated extensively with departments of the Republic of Cyprus in the production of the revised NMD planning and zoning policy.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the non-military development agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Government that applies to the sovereign base areas, what steps he plans to take to ensure that development (a) is linked to the housing needs of the local population, (b) protects sites designated under EU Birds and Habitats Directives and (c) is sustainable and eco-tourism based.
Answered by James Heappey
The Non-Military Development (NMD) planning and development zoning process has been undertaken in partnership with the Republic of Cyprus Department of Town Planning and Housing. The local communities within and overlapping the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), were consulted during the committee stages, when they submitted development requests for their communities, including requests for residential development. Environmentally protected sites that exist in the SBA, designated under SBA Law, have been taken into consideration when developing the proposed zoning. However, there are no protected sites, designated under EU Birds and Habitats Directives, within the SBA.
Development, under the NMD Policy, in relation to tourism and recreation, is discouraged and in some areas prohibited, outside of designated areas/zones, with the purpose of protecting the environment. A Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment and an Environmental Appropriate Assessment were conducted and are currently being considered by the Environment Department of the Republic of Cyprus. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration is now awaiting a written opinion on these environmental matters, before moving to the next stage of the NMD programme.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill on future prosecutions for war crimes committed by British soldiers.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
As we do not know what future operations our Armed Forces may undertake, it is not possible to assess the impact of the Bill in relation to future prosecutions.
The measures in Part 1 of the Overseas Operations Bill will apply to alleged offences committed on overseas operations more than five years ago. The Bill will not prevent allegations of offences (including war crimes) by service personnel which occur on overseas operations from being investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.