Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department plans to take to support (a) landscapes, (b) nature and (c) parks to contribute to the achievement of Environmental Improvement Plan targets through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Saving natural heritage and protecting the environment are key elements of two of the Heritage Fund's four investment principles included in their current ten-year strategy.

Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £2.2billion of National Lottery and other funding to 5,100 land, nature and biodiversity projects across the UK. The Heritage Fund is the largest investor in landscape conservation and nature recovery.

Of the ten goals cited within the Environmental Improvement Plan for England, the Heritage Fund is helping to support Goal 1 - thriving plants and wildlife, Goal 2 – clean air, Goal 3 – clean water, Goal 7 – mitigating and adapting to climate change, and Goal 10 – enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment.