EAC Chair comments on Government’s response to Office for Environmental Protection’s review of EPPS duty

The EPPS is designed to guide Government ministers towards opportunities to prevent environmental damage and enhance the environment. Under the Environment Act, they are required to have “due regard” to the EPPS.

Chair comment

The Chair of the Committee, Toby Perkins MP, said:

“I welcome the Government’s response to this important report, particularly its pledge to put environmental considerations at the heart of policymaking and to continue to work constructively with the Office for Environmental Protection in this area.

But the proof will be in the pudding. I encourage the Government to be clear and open about how it is implementing the Environmental Principles Policy Statement and what concrete impact it is having on policy development.

This can start with the DEFRA-led review of how the EPPS is implemented across Government. The Government says it will consider publication of this review; I urge it to go further and commit to doing so, so we all can see the Government’s working.”

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