Is legislation to protect the environment working? Government offers post-legislative scrutiny timetable

• Correspondence: Letter from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in response to a recommendation made in the Eighth Report of the Committee, Session 2023-24
• Report: Environmental audit in the 2019 Parliament

In response to a recommendation in the predecessor Environmental Audit Committee’s report, ‘Environmental audit in the 2019 Parliament’, the Government has indicated it plans to issue a memorandum to commence the post-legislative review of the Environment Act by 9 November 2026, the fifth anniversary of the date the Act received Royal Assent.

In his letter to EAC Chair Toby Perkins MP, the Environment Secretary draws attention to the current review of the 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan, and indicates that “new ambitious plans [are being developed] to protect and restore our natural environment”.

Chair comment

“Through the Environment Act, a framework to introduce ambitious targets was established to protect the natural environment and its inhabitants. There is understandable concern that progress towards many of these targets is currently off track: if they are not met the future for nature in England is bleak.

“That is why Parliament must be given the opportunity to ensure the policy and legislation levers are adequate to allow our fragile environment to recover and flourish and to deliver the improvements which Parliament intended. I therefore welcome the Government’s positive response to the predecessor Committee's recommendation on post-legislative scrutiny of the Environment Act, and confirmation by the Secretary of State that the Government will cooperate with Parliament's five-year review of the Act.” 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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