Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential role of his Department in helping to meet the Government's nature restoration targets.

As one of the UK's largest landowners the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to contributing to the Government's nature restoration targets and enhancing biodiversity across its estate. Indeed, for 15 years it has funded a programme to improve the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) across the Defence estate to support the Governments targets for protected sites.

The MOD is developing a Nature Recovery Plan as required by the Greening Government Commitments. This will include an assessment of the potential future contribution to protected sites and other nature recovery targets. This plan will take account of the Defence imperative, current and future military requirements and where other land use contribute to Defence outputs such as carbon sequestration, renewable energy schemes and tenant farming.

The MOD will continue to engage with Nature Conservation Bodies and Nature Recovery Networks to complement the Department's approach.