Member

On Natural England’s judgment call, I want to make it clear that the Secretary of State can sign an EDP only when they are confident that the test can be achieved, and it has to be robust to achieve that. In preparing an EDP, Natural England will have to include an assessment of the impact of the proposed conservation measures as well as setting out its view as to whether the EDP is capable of meeting the overall improvement test. This consideration of the impact of conservation measures is a crucial part of the process of preparing an EDP, which will be driven by the best available scientific advice and subject to public consultation before being submitted to the Secretary of State to consider.