Oral QuestionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential impact of planning reforms on areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Tabled: 5 September 2024Answered: 12 September 2024

Asked by

Dr Kieran Mullan

ConservativeBexhill and Battle

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Seema Malhotra)

Mr Speaker, I echo your words about Jo Cox, our friend and colleague, who we remember in our hearts. Had she not been so brutally murdered, she would have been in this House and, I am almost certain, would have been present for Foreign Office questions today. Rivers originating from the Tibetan plateau are thought to sustain 1.8 billion people directly, providing drinking water, irrigation and power generation. Through the Himalayan resilience action programme, the UK has supported research into climate and environment risks around the Tibetan plateau and supported efforts to strengthen climate resilience in the region. The resilience action programme has promoted science-based policy and dialogue across the Hindu Kush Himalaya.