EFRA Committee express concerns over new Environment Bill

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has responded to the Government’s new Environment Bill, released earlier today. 

Neil Parish MP, the Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said:

“We are pleased that the Government has incorporated some of our recommendations for strengthening the new Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), especially that Climate Change will now be within its scope. 

“However, as we highlighted in our Report earlier this year, there is little point in setting up an environmental watchdog if it is unable to fulfil its essential function of holding the government to account. It therefore cannot solely be a creature of Government. It must operate freely and autonomously.

“To achieve real independence there needs to be a role for Parliament in all decisions relating to the membership of the OEP’s board.

“I expect the Committee will be discussing the Bill and how we might respond as a matter of urgency.”