To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 on the UK’s environmental standards.
Answered on
7 November 2022
The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and we will not weaken environmental protections. We recognise that a strong environment and strong economy go hand-in-hand. In reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose for the UK's unique environment, enabling us to drive improved environmental outcomes and deliver on our commitment to halt nature's decline by 2030, whilst ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. Any changes to environmental regulations will be driven with those goals in mind.
Defra is in the process of analysing its REUL stock and determining what should be preserved as part of domestic law, as well as REUL that should be repealed, or amended. This work will determine how we use the powers in the Bill and therefore inform assessments of the Bill's impact, including in relation to environmental protections.