The Environmental Audit Committee has published the
Government’s response to its report ‘The Government’s 25 Year
Plan for the Environment’.
Chair’s comments
MP, Chair of the Environmental
Audit Committee said:
“The Government’s woolly response makes no firm commitments
on the future governance of the environment after Brexit, which
is of great concern, given that the Agriculture Bill is making
its way through Parliament.
“If we want a world-leading environment, we need a strong,
independent environmental watchdog which Ministers cannot quietly
put to sleep. The Government’s draft Bill must make the new
watchdog accountable to Parliament.
“It is deeply worrying that the response does not commit to
replace the one third of EU environmental legislation that cannot
be copied and pasted into UK law after Brexit. It should set five
yearly wildlife budgets, so people can see taxpayers’ money being
spent on public goods like flood prevention, protecting species
from extinction and restoring our soils.”
There is no confirmation on whether the body will hold all public
bodies to account, whether climate change will be in its remit or
how it will exact enforcement. The Environmental Audit Committee
will be closely monitoring the details in the proposed draft
legislation and forthcoming policy statement.
The Government’s response:
- Does not
commit to replace the one third of EU environmental legislation
(air, waste, water, chemicals) that cannot be copied and pasted
into UK law through the EU (Withdrawal Act).
- Commits to
produce annual progress reports on the 25 Year Plan and to
report on changes in a comprehensive suite of environmental
indicators and metrics that are currently under development.
- Agrees with
the Committee’s recommendation to undertake an audit of the main
existing environmental targets that contribute to the UN
Sustainable Development Goals.
- Makes clear that no devolved administration has agreed
to the proposal of a UK wide body to replace the role of the
European Commission and European Environment Agency.
- Commits to
bring forward draft clauses on the oversight and scrutiny
functions of the body this Autumn.
- Suggests that it is preparing to make sure a new statutory
body is in place “as soon as is practically achievable” in the
event of a no deal exit.
