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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take during the negotiations to leave the EU to ensure that UK environmental policies continue to match EU standards.

In the EU, the UK has worked tirelessly to seek to agree the right environmental policies. Until we leave the EU, EU law continues to apply so current arrangements for farming, food and drink and our environment remain in place.

Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone. It is also vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive – it is the bedrock of the food and drink industry, Britain’s largest manufacturing sector.

We are now preparing to negotiate our exit. Defra will be working with the Department for Exiting the EU on the UK’s withdrawal and future relationship, liaising closely with other key departments on future support for farmers, the food and drink industry and the environment. The Government will work with industry and the public to develop these new arrangements.