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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consulted the Office for Environmental Protection (1) before, and (2) after, the publication of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Whilst the department did not actively consult the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), the government welcomes that the OEP share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.

We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.