Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have held (i) orally and (ii) in writing with the Scottish Government in the last six months on the creation of additional marine conservation zones.

Defra officials had contact with counterparts from the Scottish Government in early summer 2014 on the designation of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (the Scottish equivalent of Marine Conservation Zones) which were announced in July. Ahead of this, I provided written agreement on behalf of the Secretary of State for 13 Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas in the Scottish offshore region in accordance with the requirements of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Defra officials have frequently discussed issues relating to Marine Protected Areas with their counterparts in the Scottish Government. Written and oral discussions between officials will also occur in advance of future Marine Conservation Zone consultations and designations.

The Secretary of State has not had meetings with Ministers in the Scottish Government on marine conservation zones.