Environment Bill

sir – In response to the letter on the Environment Bill (October 30), I would like to clarify that the Government has no intention of weakening current environmental protections as we leave the European Union.

Britain is a global leader in environmental protections and already exceeds EU minimums. We were the first major economy to introduce legally binding emission targets – which go further than EU targets – and the Prime Minister has committed to review how we could bring a non-regression provision on environmental protections into British law.

The Environment Bill provides a robust framework for maintaining and strengthening standards, creating an independent Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) and setting longterm, legally binding targets.

The OEP will ensure that environmental standards are upheld and, through its independent scrutiny and advice, it will also monitor improvements in the natural environment.

New targets set under the Bill will be legally binding and the Government will be held accountable if it fails to achieve them. Five-yearly interim targets, and regular reports and reviews will keep it on track.

Finally, I must make it clear that environmental principles will be enshrined in law, through a policy statement that will show how they should be interpreted and applied.

Our approach will go further than that of the EU, as ministers are legally obliged to consider the impact of all policy development on the environment, not just on environmental policy at a strategic level, as is currently the case.

Our ambition is to ensure that vital protections for our landscapes, wildlife and natural assets are not only maintained, but enhanced.

Rebecca Pow MP (Con) Environment minister

London SW1