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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of delays in the availability of conservation covenants on the ability of local authorities to prepare the implementation of biodiversity net gain in November 2023.

Guidance for any organisations considering applying to become a conservation covenant responsible body will be published and the application process launched as soon as possible, in readiness for the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG).

Land for BNG can already be secured via standard planning obligations such as s106.