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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affair, with reference to his Department’s publication entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, published 17 March 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing environmental compliance guidance to Local Planning Authorities on bats.

As announced by the Chancellor, Defra is fast-tracking the recommendation from the Corry review (published on 2 April) to rapidly review the existing catalogue of environmental compliance guidance, including on protecting bats. This will look to identify opportunities to remove duplication, ambiguity or inconsistency. Natural England has already agreed to review and update their advice to Local Planning Authorities on bats to ensure there is clear, proportionate and accessible advice available.