Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Environmental Delivery Plans proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are compatible with section 17(5) of the Environment Act 2021.

The government is clear that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will not lead to a reduction in environmental protections.

The Secretary of State, when considering a policy decision to make an Environmental Delivery Plan for an area, will have due regard to the policy statement on environmental principles.