Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
Paragraph: 50
The Committee recommends that the Office for Environmental Protection is given the necessary powers to...
Recommendation
The Committee recommends that the Office for Environmental Protection is given the necessary powers to enforce these limits.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government confirms that existing and new air quality targets under the Environment Bill will fall within the remit of the Office for Environmental Protection, meaning the OEP will have the necessary powers to enforce them against all public bodies once operational.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
50
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
Both our existing limits and any new targets set under the Environment Bill will fall within the Environment Bill’s definition of “environmental law”—this places them within the remit of the Office for Environmental Protection, meaning they can be enforced by the OEP once it is operational. In contrast to the European Commission, the OEP will be able to carry out enforcement proceedings against all public bodies for suspected breaches of environmental law, including local authorities, rather than just national government.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗