13 Sep 2016

The Environmental Audit Committee has questioned Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union and Defra on how the Government intends to approach the environment in its negotiations with the European Union after the EU Referendum result. Thérèse Coffey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra and Robin Walker, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Brexit Department […]

30 Aug 2016

Cosmetic companies should be banned from using plastic microbeads in bathroom products – like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste and shaving gel – because of the marine pollution they are causing, the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee has demanded. View the interactive report summary Read the report conclusions and recommendations Read the full report: Environmental impact of microplastics  […]

02 Aug 2016

The risk of Brexit to the Habitats and Species Directive have been highlighted since it is in a particularly exposed, risky legislative position. This review which will consider the Government’s policy and manifesto commitment and will prompt MPs to seek clarification over Brexit and MPAs in particular our SPAs and SACs. ‘The Environmental Audit Committee […]

25 Jul 2016

The Environmental Audit Committee launches an inquiry into the future of the natural environment in the light of the EU referendum. Inquiry: Future of the Natural Environment after the EU Referendum Issues include the future of funding for biodiversity and agri-environment schemes, the likely changes in the devolved administration, and the role that managed rewilding can […]

27 Jun 2016

Microplastics – Three items EAC committee Research project MCS & Greenpeace petition 1.  Environmental Audit Committee (EAC): Minister questioned on the environmental impact of microplastics This is the fourth oral evidence session in the Committee’s inquiry into the environmental impact of microplastics. The session will cover the Government’s position on the issue of microbeads and […]

15 Jun 2016

EAC Soil Health Report published Report: Soil Health Report: Soil Health (PDF 761KB)  EAC ‘Healthy soils (both urban and rural) are important for food production and human wellbeing. Soil health cannot be measured directly, so indicators (physical, chemical, and biological properties, processes, or characteristics) are generally used. These measurable properties of soil or plants provide […]

09 Jun 2016

The Environmental Audit Committee publishes report finding that the Government is failing to protect communities at risk of flooding. Report: Flooding: Cooperation across Government Report: Flooding: Cooperation across Government (PDF 1.11 MB) Inquiry: Flooding: Cooperation across Government Environmental Audit Committee Funding for flood defences The Committee warns that a reactive approach to funding for flood defence […]

01 Jun 2016

This is open and it will be interesting to see how it compares to the recommendations of the recently released Worsfold report on investment in flood infrastructure. Environment Agency’s Response to the Infrastructure UK peer review of flood and coastal risk management Environmental Audit Committee – EAC: Following another winter of severe UK floods, EAC […]