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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has for the 25 year environment plan to include accountability mechanisms to ensure that new policies from the Department for (a) Communities and Local Government, (b) Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (c) Transport and (d) International Development are assessed as to their effect on natural capital.

In line with our manifesto, the Government is committed to being the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than that in which we found it. We are working across Government to develop a 25 year environment plan to deliver this. It will include responsibilities for the whole of Government.

The Treasury is in the process of updating the Green Book appraisal guidance to include natural capital. This will help all Government departments take better account of the impacts on and contributions to protecting and improving the natural environment.