The Environment Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 30 January 2020.

 

The long title to the Bill notes that it is a Bill “to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment; for statements and reports about environmental protection; for the Office for Environmental Protection; about waste and resource efficiency; about air quality; for the recall of products that fail to meet environmental standards; about water; about nature and biodiversity; for conservation covenants; about the regulation of chemicals; and for connected purposes.”

 

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Senedd  is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls within the competence of the Senedd.

 

Sixth Senedd Scrutiny

 

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum – September 2021

 

On 3 September 2021, the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary LCM (PDF 139KB).

 

The Business Committee agreed (PDF 38.3KB), in accordance with Standing Order 29.4(i), to invite the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) on the Environment Bill, to the Senedd, by 23 September 2021.

 

Legislative Consent Memorandum – June 2021

 

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) (PDF 331KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 18 June 2021.

 

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 13 September 2021.

 

The Business Committee agreed (PDF 38.6KB) a new reporting deadline for the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee of 23 September 2021.

 

The Chair, Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee wrote to the Business Committee (PDF 145KB) regarding the scrutiny timetable for the LCM on the Environment Bill on 2 July 2021.  The Llywydd and Chair of the Business Committee responded (PDF 163KB) on 7 July 2021.

 

On 19 July 2021, the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd wrote (PDF 226KB) to the Llywydd and Chair of the Business Committee regarding the timetable for scrutiny of the LCM on the Environment Bill.

 

On 20 July 2021, the Chair, Climate Change Environment and Infrastructure Committee wrote (PDF 84KB) to the Minister for Climate Change with follow-up questions in relation to the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Environment Bill, following the Ministerial evidence session at the Committee's meeting of 15 July 2021. The Minister responded (PDF 994KB) on 6 August 2021.

 

The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee laid its report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Environment Bill (PDF 314KB) on 21 September 2021. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 306KB) to the report on 28 September 2021.

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee published its report on the Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Environment Bill (PDF 236KB) on 23 September 2021. The Welsh Government responded (274 KB) to the report on 28 September 2021.

 

Fifth Senedd Scrutiny

 

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum – December 2020

 

On 4 December 2020, the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary LCM (PDF 90KB).

 

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, and Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of Thursday 18 March 2021 (revised on 23 February 2021).

 

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee laid its report (PDF 769KB) on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum on 1 February 2021.

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on the Supplementary LCM on 19 February 2021.

 

Legislative Consent Memorandum – February 2020

 

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) (PDF 201KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on Wednesday 26 February 2020.

 

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, and Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 17 July 2020 (revised on 29 June 2020).

 

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee laid its report (PDF 243KB) on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on 2 July 2020.

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on 17 July 2020.

 

Further information on the Senedd’s consideration of the LCM, including relevant correspondence, can be found under ‘Related Meetings’.