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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff of his Department are responsible for overseeing rural proofing reports submitted to his Department.

In the Government’s response to the House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, the Government reiterated its commitment to rural proofing policies from the earliest stages across all departments.

There is a continuous dialogue between Defra and other Government Departments on rural proofing policies.

There is no requirement for departments to submit rural proofing reports to Defra and none have been submitted.