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 publish the timetable for public consultation on targets to be set under Clause 1 of the Environment Bill.

We expect to carry out a public consultation on proposed targets set under the Environment Bill in early 2022. This consultation will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their views on the ambition, evidence and achievability of target proposals. The Government will then decide the final targets to be set. Target statutory instruments will be laid before Parliament by 31 October 2022 and come into force once approved.