19 Dec 2024

The Water (Special Measures) Bill was debated in the House of Commons on Monday evening at second reading stage. There is general cross-party support for the Bill, and MPs expressed anger over pollution, investment, dividends and lots more. There was also quite a lot of criticism for Ofwat. You can read the debate here and […]

23 Jul 2024

Last week’s King’s Speech included 35 bills and draft bills, setting out the new government’s plans for this parliament and recognising “the urgency of the global climate challenge and the new job opportunities that can come from leading the development of the technologies of the future”. The government will establish Great British Energy, a new […]

24 Apr 2024

Government announces next steps to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic following overwhelming support during the consultation process World-leading legislation will be introduced this year to help tackle plastic pollution and clean up waterways Transition period set out for businesses to help them adapt The UK Government will introduce new world-leading […]

08 Nov 2023

This week’s King’s Speech set out the government’s priorities for the next parliamentary year and is the final legislative programme before the next general election. It includes plans for new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea, contrary to advice from climate scientists, the International Energy Agency and many others, and despite the […]

18 May 2023

The government has published the list of 600 EU laws it plans to scrap by the end of the year in a much-reduced Brussels “bonfire”. In a significant retreat on its retained EU law bill, the government has slashed the number of environmental laws that would have automatically expired on 31 December from 1,700 to […]

12 May 2020

MCS   Alice Watson, public affairs assistant at the Marine Conservation Society, discusses the Fisheries Bill and its key provisions.  What is the history of the Bill? The Fisheries Bill will be the UK’s first domestic fisheries legislation in over 40 years. Upon leaving the EU, the UK will become an independent coastal state in charge […]

19 Mar 2018

Environment Secretary says government commitment to improving environment means leaving ‘the statute book in a better state than we inherited it’ Businessgreen Commentary   Environment Secretary Michael Gove has acknowledged the government’s green ambitions will need “legislative underpinning”, giving his clearest indication yet new UK laws and standards may be on their way as part of […]