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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average change in (a) costs and (b) completion time of construction projects as a result of licences granted to protect great crested newts under the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, in each year since 2007.

In June 2013, Natural England introduced modifications to their licensing procedures for great crested newts. The savings to applicants until the end of November 2014 are estimated at £276,000.

Delays avoided by applicants through the use of this approach to licensing, over the same period, is estimated as 1,104 weeks.

Prior to 2013, no estimate has been made of the difference in costs and completion times.