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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) Natural England, (b) private sector stakeholders and (c) other organisations on the potential impact of the proposed changes to nutrient neutrality rules on private investment in nature recovery.

Defra Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with a range of stakeholders on private investment in nature recovery, including Natural England, private sector stakeholders and other organisations.

We remain committed to delivering a step change in private investment to support our ambitious goals for nature’s recovery. We are supporting this through a range of measures as set out in the 2023 Green Finance Strategy and Nature Markets Framework. By unlocking stalled development, alongside the initiatives on biodiversity net gain, the Government’s proposed reforms would increase private investment in natural recovery.