I have had a number of organised campaign emails from constituents calling for the Environment Bill, currently before Parliament, to set ambitious targets for environmental improvement and to establish an independent watchdog. This is my reply to those emails.
Thank you for your email regarding the Environment Bill.
The Environment Bill will place environmental ambition and accountability at the heart of Government, with legislative measures being introduced to address the biggest environmental priorities of our age, ensuring we can deliver on the commitment to leave the natural world in a better condition that we found it.
In terms of targets, as you request the Bill will give the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the power to set long-term, legally binding environmental targets on air quality, water biodiversity, resource efficiency and waste reduction that will be reviewed every five years. There will also be a published environmental improvement plan which will be reviewed every five years and a progress report published annually. In terms of your request for an independent watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection will hold this, and future Governments to account on these targets.
Government will currently be reflecting on concerns about the Bill raised during Committee Stage, as well as those raised by Parliamentarians and interested parties, and any amendments will be brought forward when the Bill returns to the House of Commons.
Thank you again for contacting me regarding this important issue.
