To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 March 2009, Official Report, column 1875W, on climate change, for what reasons statutory clarification on the legal status of the section 46 notice was needed. (269884)

The amendment to the relevant section of the Environmental Protection Act introduced in the Climate Change Act 2008 provides a single, clear point of reference in legislation for local authorities on this point.