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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of investment zones on (a) biodiversity and (b) waterway pollution.

Defra and DLUHC are working closely together on Investment Zone policy to support our growth objectives and maintain HM Government’s strong position on the environment. Investment Zones will be locally led and areas have been asked to submit Expressions of Interest. We are not weakening our environmental ambition either at home or abroad and remain committed to delivering on the Environment Act, including setting new environmental targets that will drive action to protect and enhance the natural world.