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  European Union (Withdrawal) Bill - New Clause 12 - Environmental Protection
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to require a report on the EU's environmental protections, powers and functions and on any expected loss of environmental protection, monitoring and enforcement as a result of the UK's withdrawal from the union; and voted to set up a new Environmental Protection Agency to report on environmental targets set by ministers, via international treaties or previously set by the EU.
  @ MP voted no voted not to require a report on the EU's environmental protections, powers and functions and on any expected loss of environmental protection, monitoring and enforcement as a result of the UK's withdrawal from the union; and voted not to set up a new Environmental Protection Agency to report on environmental targets set by ministers, via international treaties or previously set by the EU.
  
  The majority of MPs voted not to require a report on the European Union's environmental protections, powers and functions and on any expected loss of environmental protection, monitoring and enforcement as a result of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the union. The majority of MPs also voted not to set up a new Environmental Protection Agency to report on environmental targets set by ministers, via international treaties or previously set by the European Union.
  
  MPs were considering the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill[1].
  
  The proposed new clause rejected in this vote was titled: "Environmental protection after EU exit" and stated:
  
  :(1) Before any exit day, the Secretary of State must publish a report detailing all EU environmental protections, powers and functions.
  
  :(2) The report pursuant to subsection (1) shall specifyâ
  
  :(a) all environmental legal protections which derive from EU law;
  
  :(b) the powers and functions relating to environmental protection or improvement exercised by EU institutions;
  
  :(c) the empowering provisions in EU law relating to those functions; and
  
  :(d) any loss of environmental protection, or the monitoring and enforcement of environmental protections, which may arise as a result of the UKâs exit from the EU.
  
  :(3) Before any exit day the Secretary of State must publish proposals for primary legislation (the âDraft Environmental Protection Billâ).
  
  :(4) The Draft Environmental Protection Bill must include provisions which wouldâ
  
  :(a) ensure that the level of environmental protection provided by EU law on the day this Act receives Royal Assent is maintained or enhanced;
  
  :(b) make provision to remedy any loss of environmental protection, or the monitoring and enforcement of environmental protections, established in the report pursuant to subsection (1);
  
  :(c) create a statutory corporation (to be called âthe Environmental Protection Agencyâ) with operational independence from Ministers of the Crown to monitor environmental targets previously set by EU law relating to environmental protection and other such environmental targets that may be set by Ministers of the Crown and international treaties to which the United Kingdom is party;
  
  :(d) require the statutory corporation in (4)(c) to report to Parliament every year on progress in meeting those targets and to make recommendations for remedial action where appropriate;
  
  :(e) allow the statutory corporation in (4)(c) to publish additional reports identifying action or omissions on the part of Ministers of the Crown that is likely to result in targets not being met; and
  
  :(f) extend to the whole of the United Kingdom.
  
  :(5) The Secretary of State must publish annual reports to Parliament on how environmental protections and the monitoring and enforcement of environmental protections have been affected by the United Kingdomâs exit from the EU.
  
  :(6) Before publishing a report pursuant to subsection (5) the Secretary of State must hold a public consultation on the effect of leaving the EU on environmental protection.
  
  :(7) The Secretary of State must publish and lay before each House of Parliament the first report pursuant to subsection (5) no later 29 March 2020 and each subsequent report must be published no later than the period of one year after the publication of the previous report.â
  
  The rejected new clause was accompanied by the following explanatory notice:
  
  :This new clause would require the Secretary of State to produce a report on the loss of environmental protection as a result of the UKâs exit from the EU, and to prepare an Environmental Protection Bill to make up for any loss of environmental protections, and the monitoring and enforcement of environmental protections. It would also require the Secretary of State to produce annual reports which make an assessment of the impact of the UKâs withdrawal from the EU on UK environmental protection.
  
  ==
  
  * [1] [https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/europeanunionwithdrawal.html Parliament's webpage on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill]
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  