How will the Government deliver environmental protections alongside growth? Answers sought from Environment Secretary

• Read the letter, dated 14 April 2025
• Environmental Audit Committee

Last month, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs appeared before the Environmental Audit Committee to discuss the priorities of his department. On issues including maintaining environmental protections alongside delivering growth and meeting air quality targets, EAC found that a number of the answers given required clarification and further detail. 

Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, has written to the Secretary of State seeking additional information. The topics on which the Committee has sought a response by Thursday 1 May include:

• When the 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan will be published and when a response to the Office for Environmental Protection’s 2023-24 assessment report will be forthcoming.
• Funding for the Office for Environmental Protection.
• How nature has been established as a priority issue underpinning the Government’s five current Missions.
• The circular economy and fees payable under the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme.
• An annual Government statement on the state of climate and nature.

Further information

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

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