Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department plans to publish a strategy for its blue belt policy to protect marine biodiversity in British Overseas Territories.

The overarching policy framework is currently being developed by Government in consultation with the UK Overseas Territories, with the objective of delivering a demonstrable increase in the protection of marine biodiversity. The UK Overseas Territories are constitutionally responsible for the conservation of their natural environments and as such will develop bespoke solutions, where necessary, to implement this policy.