Now we look to the Lords after MPs push through Retained EU Law Bill

Report shows the potentially staggering cost of damaging legislation to our environment… and the economy

The Retained EU Law Bill alarms many who fear it could weaken both workers’ rights and environmental protection previously afforded by EU legislation.

CPRE Kent is one of many groups in Wildlife and Countryside Link ­– a coalition of 67 organisations supporting our natural environment – highlighting the threat of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, to give it its full title.

The Bill, which returned to Parliament yesterday (Wednesday, January 18), is intended to make it easier for the government to repeal, replace or amend any EU laws retained after Brexit.

It would also allow most remaining retained EU laws to be either repealed or absorbed into this country’s domestic law by December 31, 2023.

And yesterday the Bill was given final approval by MPs – however, it is anticipated that it will face a bumpy ride when scrutinised by the House of Lords in the weeks ahead.

A cross-party amendment forcing ministers to detail which laws it intended scrapping was defeated.

So, as it stands, our hopes appear to rest with the House of Lords. Be assured, the Bill in its current form could be grim news for our natural environment.

It could also prove highly expensive for the UK economy. The Wildlife and Countryside Link commissioned the Economics for the Environment Consultancy to analyse the potential cost of laws covering chemical regulation, water pollution, air quality and habitats – and the figures were staggering.

If the government does indeed shred EU environmental laws, the cost to the UK could top £82 billion over 30 years. The health impacts of poorer air and water quality and the loss of recycling markets caused by weaker chemical regulations are the principal factors, although reduced protection of designated areas was predicted to cost more than £1 billion.

In truth, with more than 1,000 environment laws within its scope, the full cost of weakened nature protections would be much higher.

Dr Richard Benwell, chief of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Prevention of air and water pollution, protection of precious wildlife and habitats, precautions against hazardous chemical use – they are all put at risk by the Retained EU Law Bill. If long-standing protection for nature is removed or weakened, the economic consequences could run into the billions.

“Add to this the costs of years of uncertainty while half the environmental statute book is up in the air and thousands of hours of civil service time spent reviewing laws simply because of where they came from. All together, the costs of this economic and environmental wrecking ball bill could be astronomical at a time when the UK – and our environment – can least afford it.”

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, added: “Everything about this appalling, anti-democratic and unconstitutional Bill is wrong.

“It is seeking to give ministers the power to remove or amend existing UK legislation on a whim, but this should be the job of Parliament and Parliament alone. As things stand, over 1,000 pieces of environmental legislation and regulations will cease to exist at the end of this year, at extraordinary cost to the environment and our economy, and cause untold chaos for business, landowners and farmers in the process.

“This Bill was the brainchild of Jacob Rees-Mogg when he was a cabinet minister in the short-lived government of Liz Truss. By continuing to push it through, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seems determined to repeat the chaos, confusion and cost associated with the previous administration. He needs to pull it and think again.”

• To read more about the Retained EU Law Bill, click here

 Thursday, January 19, 2023