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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish data on the number of nutrient mitigation credit schemes in the pipeline for Natural England approval in each of the last 12 months; how many pipeline schemes were paused (a) in each of those months and (b) since the Government's announcement of changes to the rules on nutrient neutrality and home building; and if she will make a statement.

Competent Authorities such as Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) are responsible for conducting a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for new plans or projects where one is required. Natural England provides statutory advice on HRAs but does not register or accredit all nutrient credits sold by LPAs or private providers where nutrient neutrality is a condition of planning consent.

Natural England’s own Nutrient Mitigation Scheme has enabled more than 3,500 homes since its first credits were made available for sale in the Tees and Cleveland Coast catchment in March 2023.