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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to monitor and assess the potential impact of the Heather and Grass Burning Regulations on carbon emissions from (a) controlled burning and (b) wildfires; and whether her Department plans to publish an assessment of the net impact of those regulations on carbon emissions.

Defra does not hold an assessment of the net impact of The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 on carbon emissions. Carbon emissions associated with controlled burning and wildfires are influenced by a range of factors, making it difficult to attribute changes specifically to the Regulations. We do not currently plan to publish an assessment in this area.