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Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 6 November 2025UIN 84920

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75194 on Planning and Infrastructure Bill: European Commission, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with the European Commission on (a) issues of environmental regression and (b) other issues in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK meets annually with the European Commission through the Level Playing Field Trade Specialised Committee to discuss the implementation of the Level Playing Field chapter within which Article 391 (non-regression from levels of environmental protection) sits. This year’s meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee was held on 15 October 2025.

At this meeting the UK provided an overview of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and both parties agreed to ongoing engagement once the Bill receives Royal Assent and focus shifts to its implementation.

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