The House of Lords Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 will take evidence from Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on Tuesday 16 January.
Over the course of the inquiry, the Committee have heard evidence that government policy was often designed with inadequate consideration for how it would be implemented in a rural setting, and rural-proofing happened too late in the policymaking process.
In this session, the Committee will address this issue with the Ministers as well as DEFRA’s capacity to deliver the broad remit of the NERC Act.
Questions the witnesses are likely to be asked include:
- What plans does the Government have for establishing a new body to provide environmental oversight and accountability following Brexit?
- How will planning and reporting on biodiversity which is currently required by EU law be maintained following the UK’s departure from the EU?
- What steps are Defra taking to support the rural economy? How does Defra work with other Government departments to ensure that policies are ‘rural-proofed’?
- How does Defra ensure that it is listening to the whole range of rural voices?
The evidence session will begin at 12.30pm, Tuesday 16 January in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.