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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, what plans her Department has to (a) retain (b) replace or (c) revoke the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

Defra is carefully considering the retained EU law (REUL) within scope of the sunset clause in the REUL Bill, which will include the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulation 2017 (the Habitats Regulations). Defra’s default approach will be to retain REUL unless there is a good reason to either repeal or reform it. Any use of REUL Bill powers will ensure that our environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes.