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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a revised impact assessment on the Environment Bill which takes into account any further powers proposed for (1) the Office for Environmental Protection, and (2) forest risk commodities.

An impact assessment was published when the Environment Bill was introduced. The Government has introduced no further proposed powers for the Office for Environmental Protection in the Bill’s progress. We will publish a full impact assessment specific to the amendments that were tabled to the Bill in November 2020 to introduce due diligence requirements for larger businesses using forest risk commodities in the UK. This impact assessment will outline the expected cost to business of complying with the due diligence requirements, taking into account evidence received through public consultation.