Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that measures to protect bees and other pollinators are fully reflected in planning practice guidance.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out our policies for the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment. The biodiversity, ecosystems and green infrastructure section of our new web-based planning guidance explains how these matters should be taken into account in the planning system. Defra is consulting on a National Pollinator Strategy and my officials are working with Defra officials.