Written question asked by Chris Hinchliff (Labour) on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2026 (named day). It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environmental Delivery Plans

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government plans to publish its assessment of the effectiveness of Environmental Delivery Plans; what criteria will be used to evaluate their success; and whether further Environmental Delivery Plans will be introduced only following publication of that assessment.

Answer: An initial assessment of Environmental Delivery Plans will take place following the making of the first nutrient pollution EDP. EDPs covering other issues will only be made after a statement on the findings of this assessment has been made to Parliament. Over the longer-term, success of the NRF programme will be regularly assessed against a range of criteria as part of a monitoring programme to determine the extent to which EDPs enable development and deliver measurable environmental improvements.

Secondary information