Environment Act targets delayed by volume of response

The government has delayed the scheduled publication of environmental targets under the Environment Act with the explanation that too many people have responded to the consultation. For the water sector, these included water demand and nutrient reduction targets.

Newly appointed environment secretary (and former water minister) Thérèse Coffey issued a ministerial statement last week to explain the deadline could not be stuck to because 180,000 responses had come in.

Coffey said: “In light of the volume of material and the significant public response we will not be able to publish targets by 31st October, as required by the act . However, I would like to reassure this House and all interested parties that we will continue to work at pace in order to lay draft statutory instruments as soon as practicable.

"We remain committed to our future target to halt the decline in species by 2030 as included on the face of the Environment Act, and to bring forward the wider suite of targets specified under the act.”

Parliamentary undersecretary of state, Lord Benyon, notified the Lords.