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Written question asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 April 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 April 2017. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative) on Wednesday, 12 April 2017 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environment Protection

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that appropriate enforcement mechanisms will be in position post-Brexit in place of those currently exercised by the European Commission and European Court of Justice, in relation to the environment.

Answer

The Government is committed to being the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.

The UK has always had a strong legal framework for environmental protections which predates our membership of the EU and oversight by its institutions. Our legislative framework already includes provisions for regulators to enforce existing environmental laws.

Parliament is responsible for holding the Government to account, and Parliament is ultimately accountable to the electorate. This will not change with our departure from the EU.

If there is an allegation that the Government has acted unlawfully, or has not complied with due process, interested parties may also bring legal action against the Government, in form of a claim for judicial review through the courts.

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Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6613
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Enforcement Environment protection Brexit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk