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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to enhance environmental regulation following his Department’s review of existing EU regulation.

The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and HM Government has clear environmental and climate goals, set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Net Zero Strategy respectively, as well a legally binding obligation to halt nature’s decline by 2030. In reviewing retained EU law, Defra’s aim is to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst also ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. Any changes to environmental regulation following the review of REUL will need to support the continued delivery of our environmental and international commitments, including those with the EU.