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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Earl Howe on 22 October (HL Deb, col 651), when DEFRA began its full assessment of the scale and volume of sea-based and non-seaboard patrol and surveillance capability required afer Brexit; and when they anticipate this work being completed.

A full scale assessment of the risk and threats to English Waters resulting from EU Exit started in summer 2017. This initial work was necessary to inform future options for the scale and volume of both at sea and shore side patrol and surveillance capability.

We continue to assess a number of different options to increase control and surveillance activity in our waters depending on various scenarios. It is therefore not possible to commit to a date of completion at this stage. However, some work is already underway and the Marine Management Organisation are currently undertaking a range of activities, including recruitment, to deliver the increased capability in readiness for leaving the EU.

Control and enforcement activities, including patrol and surveillance capability, is a devolved matter. As such, it will continue to be for each Devolved Administration to decide how best to control its waters, and what new arrangements may be needed, when the UK leaves the EU.