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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to invest in green infrastructure to enable local authorities to achieve the (a) net zero and (b) air quality goals set by the Government.

Government recognises the value of multifunctional green infrastructure to deliver benefits including carbon storage and, if carefully designed, to help manage the impacts of air quality. Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure Framework: Principles and Standards for England in January 2023. This will help local planning authorities and planning developers to create or improve green and blue infrastructure, particularly where provision is poorest. As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023, we will support local authorities to improve access to green infrastructure. We will build more parks and incorporate green infrastructure in towns and cities, and encourage more urban street trees.