Sustainable Development: Business
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting for companies.
James Paice (Minister of State (Agriculture and Food), Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; South East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
For quoted companies, the Companies Act 2006 already requires that the business review, which is part of a company's annual report, must include information about environmental matters (including the impact of the organisation's business on the environment). This is provided to the extent necessary to give an understanding of the development, performance or position of the firm's business.
As stated in the Natural Environment White Paper, we will publish new guidance detailing how companies should measure and report their corporate environmental impacts this year.