Every parliamentary written question tabled by Calum Miller this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–6 of 6 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, whether Natural England has (a) paused and (b) delayed the designation of any Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Natural England has a rolling programme to keep under review places that may merit and benefit from designation as SSSIs.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of Natural England to identify and designate new Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Natural England (NE) receives an appropriate budget to carry out its duties and responsibilities in line with what is affordable and the priorities set out by the Secretary of State. Restoring nature is one of our top priorities. Protected sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), are the best existing areas for nature, where species can thrive and spread into the wider countryside, and they form the foundation of the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. NE is adapting its protected sites work programme. It will focus on prioritising actions to deliver the Environment Act interim target for SSSIs and aligning its work with the objectives of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been designated in England in each of the last five years.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation is a two‑stage process. Sites are first notified, at which point they become legally protected. Notifications are then confirmed, usually within nine months, once any objections or representations have been considered. For the purposes of this answer, “designated” is taken to mean confirmed SSSI notifications. On that basis, the number of SSSIs designated in England, by calendar year, is as follows: YearNumber of SSSIs designated2021620221202312024020250 Confirmation often takes place in a year following notification, so notified and confirmed figures do not necessarily relate to the same sites.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to allocate adequate resources to support households at risk of flooding in Bicester and Woodstock constituency.
This Government will invest £7.9 billion over the next ten years in the largest ever flood programme. This will boost resilience and benefit 840,000 properties by 2035–36. The programme will launch in April 2026 and I encourage all local areas to work with the Environment Agency to explore options for future flood schemes.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) environmental and (b) animal welfare standards are maintained in planning reforms.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 January 2025 to the hon Member for West Dorset, PQ 25127.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the National Land Use Strategy.
The Government plans to publish a 12-week consultation on land use shortly. The consultation will inform the publication of a Land Use Framework, planned for later in the year.