Tuesday 10 March,
10.00, in Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster
The EFRA Committee will question Natural England on a range of
topics, including the
Government's reforms to environmental
regulations that can apply to housing and
infrastructure developments, and its work with farmers to
promote nature
improvement schemes on farmland.
MPs will question
the advisory body's Chair, Tony
Juniper, and its Chief Executive, Marian Spain.
Mr Juniper said in 2020 that Natural England had too many
responsibilities relative to its size. Its budget has been cut by
12% since 2024/25 and it is aiming to shed 172 staff
under a voluntary exit scheme by March 2026.
The cross-party Committee is likely to discuss new
restrictions on upland peat burning amid
concerns they could increase the risk of wildfires, and
why Natural England hasn't scaled up Higher-Tier Countryside
Stewardship Schemes.
There may also be questions about Environmental Delivery
Plans (EDPs), which aim to speed up
development by changing how certain environmental
obligations are met. EDPs allow property developers to
pay into a fund for a designated area, which
would compensate for the loss or damage caused to
habitats covered by the development.
Witnesses from 10.00am:
- Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Chair at Natural England
- Marian Spain, Chief Executive at Natural England
