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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, what steps she is taking to ensure compliance with the protected landscapes duty.

This Government is working with a range of partners to consider the impact of the Protected Landscapes Duty. We have received and considered many letters on this matter, including one Campaign for National Parks wrote on behalf of over 170 organisations.

The duty is intended to facilitate better outcomes for England’s Protected Landscapes, which are in line with their statutory purposes.

The Government has published guidance on the Protected Landscapes duty to ensure public bodies operating in these areas, including water companies, deliver better environmental outcomes working together with Protected Landscape organisations.