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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Wildlife and Countryside Link's campaign for a National Nature Service.

My department and I have worked closely with the NGO sector and representative bodies to understand the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on their fundraising and operations. Environmental organisations play a critical role in looking after the green spaces that are vital to our health and wellbeing. These organisations are also key delivery partners for the ambitious programme of investment that this Government has committed for nature restoration and tree planting. This is why on 14 September we launched the Green Recovery Challenge Fund which will bring forward up to £40 million of that investment to provide an immediate boost for the environment and to protect jobs, skills and momentum in the sector. I am delighted to say that the Fund has attracted very high level of interest from the sector and successful bidders will be announced in due course. I note with interest the recent Wildlife and Countryside Link proposal and will continue to encourage the sector to come forward with new ideas.