Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely health impacts of the requirement under the NHS net zero supplier roadmap for suppliers to report all relevant scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from April 2027.

The NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap was originally published in 2021 under the previous administration and stipulated that: "All suppliers will be required to publicly report targets, emissions and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for global emissions aligned to the NHS net zero target, for all of their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions."

The guidance was updated in June 2026 to operate in a much less rigid and more common-sense way, stating that: "The NHS will implement new proportionate requirements for suppliers to publicly report targets, emissions and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for all of their relevant global scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions."

This new approach follows extensive stakeholder engagement, allowing a more flexible approach to be taken in respect of different suppliers. For example, recognising that, where there are limited suppliers of certain goods, equipment, or services, or where those supplies are critical to patient care, it may not be appropriate to apply net zero procurement requirements.

In addition to progressing the supplier roadmap milestones, NHS England continues to support high-quality lower carbon respiratory care which improves clinical outcomes whilst reducing carbon emissions from inhalers, and has saved hundreds of millions of pounds in energy costs which have been channelled back into frontline care. The updated guidance will continue to drive those savings for the taxpayer, while operating in a much more proportionate and less burdensome way.