The Environment Secretary writes in the Sunday Telegraph.

Sunday Telegraph 12th November.

An independent watchdog to “give the environment a voice” and “hold the powerful to account” will form the cornerstone of a “green Brexit”, the Environment Secretary discloses.

Michael Gove reveals plans to set up a “world-leading” statutory body to maintain environmental standards, together with a national policy statement that will permanently “embed” protections for land, water, air and wildlife into policy-making as Britain leaves the European Union.

He states that “all existing European law, including environmental protection, will be transferred into UK law through the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. Rules and regulations in place the day before Brexit will still be in place the day after”.

He adds that early next year a consultation will be carried out on the formation of the new environmental body and a new policy statement. Questions will include what functions and powers will the new body have to enforce environmental laws, how the new policy statement will be embedded into public policy making and whether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wish to take a similar or different approach.