Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to assess whether data centres protect nature, as set out in the policy paper The Data Centre Covenant, published on 28 October.

Data centres are essential to our economy, but their development must protect the environment. Adhering to the highest environmental standards is one of the five tests set out in the Data Centre Covenant, with further detail available within the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2026. In addition, planning applications for data centres are subject to the same robust environmental regulations and requirements as other forms of development, including requirements to increase biodiversity net-gain by 10%, conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment where necessary, and to apply in parallel for the relevant Environmental Permits from the Environment Agency.