Both the Chair and Chief Executive of the Office for Environmental Protection, together with Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey and Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are due to give evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) from 2.00pm onwards today.
The evidence session follows numerous recent announcements on environment policy and amid concerns expressed by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) that the Government’s own environment targets are failing to be met.
Last week, the Government unveiled its Environmental Improvement Plan, which seeks to address nature decline, and its Environmental Principles Policy Statement, which aims to embed environmental protection in all government policymaking.
The publications come shortly after the OEP published an assessment identifying areas where Government targets on the environment and nature are failing to be met. These issues are likely to be discussed with the Environment Secretary in some detail.
The Committee will also use the opportunity to explore Government progress in a number of areas of Committee interest, including:
- water quality
- the deposit return scheme for drinks containers
- the effects of environmental change on food security.
The evidence session follows the Committee’s recent correspondence with the Environment Secretary about progress on delayed Government policy documents and consultation responses.
The witnesses will give evidence from2.00pm onwards in the following order:
From 14.00:
Dame Glenys Stacey DBE, Chair, Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)
Natalie Prosser, Chief Executive, OEP
From 14.45:
Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Tamara Finkelstein CB, Permanent Secretary, DEFRAWednesday 8 February at 14.00, Committee Room 15
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