Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her department intends to introduce legislation as a result of the Supreme Court decision of [2024] UKSC 20, R (on the application of Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) (Appellant) v Surrey County Council and others.

The Supreme Court has clarified that downstream emissions are to be considered as part of the environmental assessment of certain kinds of development. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recently announced their plans to consult on new environmental guidance for offshore oil and gas developments in light of this ruling, and more detail will be provided in due course.