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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her letter to the Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection of 25 July 2023, if she will publish (a) a list of the experts from whom her Department received advice regarding the inclusion of Regulations 9 and 10 of the National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2018 and the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1522 in Schedule 1 of the Retained EU Law Act and (b) the advice that she received; and if she will make a statement.

Regulations 9 and 10 of the National Emissions Ceilings Regulations 2018 and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1522 concern the preparation of a National Air Pollution Control Programme. The Secretary of State received advice from Defra officials following established processes in regard to these provisions and the Retained EU Law Act. The Secretary of State does not intend to publish that advice. The Secretary of State did not receive any advice from external sources.

The Secretary of State will inform Parliament when there is an update to give, in line with established protocols.