VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Environmental Delivery Plans

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 9 January 2026UIN 102571

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria will be used to assess whether Environmental Delivery Plans meets the Overall Improvement Test.

Answered by Mary Creagh

The Overall Improvement Test requires the Secretary of State to consider whether, by the end date of an Environmental Delivery Plan, the positive effect of all the conservation measures set out in the Environmental Delivery Plan will materially outweigh the negative effect on the environmental feature of all the development that it enables.

This is a determination that will be informed by the best available scientific evidence.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim