Thank you for contacting me about a green economic recovery.

I do agree that as we recover from Covid-19, the Government needs to deliver an economy which is stronger, greener, more sustainable and more resilient. I was therefore pleased that, on 8 June, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a Green Recovery working group. This group will explore how to capture the economic growth opportunities from the shift to net zero emissions.

The UK has played a world-leading role in tackling climate change and the transition to Clean Growth, with the UK being the first country to legislate to eliminate our contribution to climate change by 2050, and the fastest in the G20 to cut emissions. Since 1990, the UK has cut emissions by more than 40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds, and we are a world-leader in offshore wind.

At the same time, the Environment Bill will protect and improve the environment for future generations, enshrining in law environmental principles and legally-binding targets. The first progress report of the Government’s ambitious 25 Year Environment Plan found that 90 per cent of the priority actions have been delivered or are on track for delivery.

Building on considerable recent investments, Ministers have pledged to invest an additional £2 billion in cycling. The first stage of this £2 billion investment will be a £250 million emergency active travel fund which will deliver new pop-up cycle lanes with protected space for cycling, cycle and bus-only corridors, safer junctions and wider pavements. Furthermore, a £50 'Fix Your Bike Voucher' will be introduced, which is expected to help up to half-a-million people to bring bikes out of retirement.

I have also offered my support to local initiatives to build on the rise in cycling during this global pandemic and support improved routes specifically for cycles and pedestrians connecting Worcester and the Malvern Hills.

Action on the Environment remains one of my absolute priorities as we work towards being the first generation to leave our natural environment in a better state than we found it.