Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she plans to take steps to ban deep sea mining in UK waters.

There is no deep sea mining activity underway or approved in UK territorial waters.

The UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects unless and until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards are in place.

We would engage in public consultation ahead of making a decision to issue any UK-sponsored deep sea mining exploitation licence.