The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is set to question the Environment Secretary this week on water quality, biodiversity and other issues as part of its inquiry into The environmental protection policies of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

From tougher action to address river pollution, to strengthening enforcement of the Government’s biodiversity net gain policy, MPs on the Committee will discuss recent EAC recommendations with Environment Secretary George Eustace MP and discuss what progress is being made on the Department’s environmental protection goals.

The Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will appear before the Committee at 2.15pm on Wednesday 29 June.

The MPs are also likely to explore recommendations from two reports relevant to the Secretary of State’s remit – the latest progress report to Parliament from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), and the Office for Environmental Protection’s 25 Year Environmental Plan (25 YEP) report.

The CCC’s report on the Government’s progress on reducing carbon emissions, which be published on the same day as the minister’s evidence session, is expected to evaluate department progress towards Net Zero and include advice on policy and on a renewed approach to monitoring.

The evidence session will provide an opportunity for the Environment Secretary to give an early reaction to the CCC’s recommendations. The OEP’s 25 YEP report set out a framework for assessment of Government efforts to protect, restore and improve the environment in England.

Further issues that are likely to be raised include:

• water quality, on which EAC has called for regulatory action, water company investment, and collaboration to clean up a chemical cocktail of pollution in England’s rivers;
• biodiversity net gain, and how the Government will strengthen and monitor its enforcement to address gaps in current policy;
• timelines for current strategies to bring down waste and preserve resources;
• fertiliser production, and Government plans to promote fossil-free fertilisers;
• proposed new environmental targets under the Environment Act 2021;
• status of retained EU environmental laws needing to be amended, replaced or repealed.