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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2023 to Question 189114 on Hedges and Ditches: Conservation, what is her expected timeline for when the consultation on regulatory arrangements will be published.

On 28 June 2023, we launched a consultation on how we can best protect hedgerows through effective, proportionate regulation as we phase out farm subsidies and cross compliance rules. The consultation will be open for 12 weeks and closes at 23:59 on 20 September 2023.

We want to ensure the regulations work for wildlife, the environment and for farmers. This consultation is seeking views on the best way to maintain and improve existing protections, as well as our approach to enforcement. We would like everyone who cares about hedgerows – including farmers, stakeholder organisations and members of the public – to read our consultation document and share their views on our plans.