To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which policies under each arms length body reporting to their Department fall within the scope of the Environmental principles policy statement, published on 31 January 2023.

The 2021 Environment Act Environmental Principles duty does not apply to policy relating to the Armed Service, Defence and National Security.

However, the Environmental Principles Policy Statement is taken account of as part of Ministry of Defence policy decisions making processes. As such under the Policy Statement there is no requirement to maintain a comprehensive list of policies published since 1 November 2023, whether developed by a central department or an arm’s length body, which are not covered by stated exemptions.

The environmental principles policy statement provides further information on what is considered policy in scope of the duty.