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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish an assessment of the potential (a) economic, (b) business, (c) environmental and (d) export impacts of the UK horticulture industry transitioning to peat-free growing mediums.

Our proposals to prohibit the sale of peat and peat containing products will deliver benefits in terms of carbon storage, protect habitats and biodiversity.

Defra consulted on its proposals on 18 December 2021 and published an Economic Impact Assessment at that time. The link to this updated assessment is provided below.

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/soils-and-peatlands/endingtheretailsaleofpeatinhorticulture/supporting_documents/Consultation%20Impact%20Assessment%20%20Ending%20the%20Retail%20Sale%20of%20Peat%20in%20Horticulture%20in%20England%20and%20Wales.pdf