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 made positive noises about the opportunities from Brexit, maintaining existing legislation and the need to build on existing commitments to improve the environment. But, despite repeated questioning, they found it difficult to provide any detail or concrete commitments about the negotiating position or future policy.

The Committee has also written to the Government seeking reassurance about the Government’s plans for the large proportion of environmental law and protection that originated at EU level.