Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September to Question 284655 on Cayman Islands: Passenger Ships, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on coral reef and other seabed of the Cruise Berthing Facility Project in the Cayman Islands; and what steps he is taking to protect the marine environment of UK Overseas Territories.

?The Cruise Berthing Facility Project was raised during Lord Ahmad's visit to the Cayman Islands last year and the Governor maintains a regular dialogue with those on both sides of this debate. Environmental protection is an area of devolved responsibility in Overseas Territories. Cayman law requires that an environmental impact assessment be conducted before a development of this nature proceeds. An updated environmental impact scoping document has been submitted to the Environmental Assessment Board for review; once this review is complete a period of public consultation will commence before a final report is issued. Under the Blue Belt programme, United Kingdom funding has been provided to support the Overseas Territories protect and manage their marine environments. The programme is currently on course to protect 4 million square kilometres of ocean around the UKOTs. Further funding was announced in August for FY 2020/21 to continue this important programme.