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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set out a strategy for 10 per cent of English waters to be classed as Highly Protected Marine Areas by 2026.

We are not currently considering a numerical target for HPMAs in English waters. We recently consulted on five candidate pilot HPMAs and our current focus is designating sites using the views and evidence gathered during the consultation. Any pilot HPMAs would be designated through the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by 6 July 2023. This would be a year from the start of the consultation as required by the Act.