To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take facilitate cooperation between the four countries of the UK on shared environmental challenges after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered on
27 March 2019
Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we have a shared interest in protecting our environment. Ministers are in regular discussion with counterparts in the devolved administrations. On 18 February this year we agreed to establish the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This Group provides central coordination and promotes greater collaboration in areas of shared interest, including the environment, between the relevant portfolio ministers in the UK administrations.
When we leave the EU, many of the returning powers will pass to the devolved administrations. In some policy areas it will be necessary to agree common frameworks in respect of these returning powers. We are working with the devolved administrations to develop these in accordance with the principles agreed at the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) on 16 October 2017. These principles are outlined in the Joint Ministerial Communique: www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-ministerial-committee-communique-16-october-2017. Progress in developing the frameworks was reported to Parliament on 7 February this year: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-second-european-union-withdrawal-act-and-common-frameworks-report.