Environment Bill delayed

The Government has opted to hold the Environment Bill in the Commons to carry it over into the next session, citing compressed time for debate because of the Covid crisis.

Had the Bill moved to the Lords but failed to complete its passage, there would have been an even longer delay than the now expected six months, as the legislation would effectively have had to start its passage again from scratch.

Environmental groups condemned the delay. Green Alliance, for instance, said the Bill had been “plagued by a catalogue of delays and consistently held back while other legislation has passed”.

Defra said it remained fully committed to the Bill and its environmental ambition, and that work on the legislation would continue.