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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will ensure that any forthcoming environmental legislation (a) sets out legally binding targets for environmental protection, the progress of which must be reported on annually by Government, (b) incorporates a non-regression principle to prevent backward steps in the adoption and implementation of environmental laws and (c) establishes an independent and adequately resourced environmental watchdog.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.