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Biodiversity

Asked by Joe RobertsonConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 2 June 2026UIN 3140

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 127547, whether checks undertaken to ensure the BNG metric digitisation project is following due process examined whether Equal Experts accessed proprietary software products developed by private sector BNG technology companies during the Discovery phase without those companies' knowledge or consent; who conducted those checks; and what written record of their findings exists.

Answered by Mary Creagh

In line with standard project procedure, Defra officials reviewed the user research activities carried out during the Discovery phase of the BNG metric digitisation project. These were found to be compliant with Government standards for research. The review process does not generate a written record.

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