Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on establishing the biodiversity net gain approach in environmental law after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will ensure that the whole body of existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law to provide businesses, communities and stakeholders with maximum certainty as we leave the EU. We will then have the opportunity, over time, to ensure our legislative framework is outcome driven and delivers on our overall commitment of improving the environment within a generation.

The UK has a long history of environmental protection and we will safeguard and improve on this record. Producing a 25 Year Environment Plan is key to setting out how we will improve our environment as we leave the EU and take control of our environmental legislation again.