EU exit and the environment
The Committee’s work programme in relation to the UK’s exit from the EU focuses on—
• Environmental risks arising with exit, especially in the case of a ‘no deal’ exit;
• New powers falling within devolved competence which arise from the UK’s exit from the EU and common frameworks; and
• Environmental principles and governance.
The Committee has taken evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform a number of times on a range of issues relating to EU exit, most recently on 4 December 2018 and 30 April 2019.
On 27 Septeber 2019, the Committee wrote to the Cabinet Secretary asking for further information about the Scottish Government’s preparations in her portfolio area for the UK’s exit from the EU, especially in relation to a ‘no deal’ exit. Read the letter:
The Committee took evidence from the Cabinet Secretary on 29 October 2019. Following the session, the Cabinet Secretary provided further information on a number of points. Read the letter:
The Committee wrote to the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs and the UK Government's Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution on seeking assurances on the handling of statutory instruments. Read the letters:
Environmental risks arising from exiting the EU
In addition to the Cabinet Secretary’s evidence on 4 December 2018 and 30 April 2019, the Committee also took evidence from industry professionals and stakeholders in relation to chemicals and waste policy on 23 April 2019.
New powers and common frameworks
The Committee set out its views on the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of new powers falling within devolved competence which arise from the UK’s exit from the EU in its letter to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 15 May 2019. Read the Committee’s views on the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of new powers:
For further information about the Committee’s consideration of statutory instruments laid in the UK Parliament under powers set out in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019, click here.
For further information about the Committee’s consideration of the proposed common frameworks in its remit, click here.
The Convener wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for updates on the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and Radioactive Substances frameworks:
The Cabinet Secretary provided an update on all the common frameworks in the Committee’s remit in her response. Read the letter:
The Committee responded to the Finance and Constitution Committee’s letter seeking committees’ views on the impact of Brexit in the light of a number of developments, namely the Scottish Government’s proposed ‘keeping pace’ power and UK Government’s proposed internal market. Read the Committee’s views on the impact of Brexit. Read the letter:
Environmental principles and governance
The Committee will hold a roundtable discussion with a range of stakeholder on 14 January 2020.
The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Committee to update members on the Scottish Government’s progress in developments for future environmental principles and governance. Read the letter:
Committee adviser on EU exit
The Committee has appointed Professor Colin Reid from the University of Dundee as its adviser on EU Exit until the end of the parliamentary session.
Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill
The Committee wrote to the Scottish Government about the environmental impact of this Bill on 11 December 2019. Read the letter and the response:
The Committee then wrote to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 29 January 2020 setting out a number of questions and concerns for its consideration. Read the letter:
UK Agriculture Bill
The Committee wrote to the Scottish Government asking for information about the environmental impact of this Bill.
The Committee then wrote to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 5 May 2020 setting out a number of questions and concerns. Read the letter:
UK Environment Bill
The Committee wrote to the Scottish Government asking for further information about the Bill and LCM. Read the Cabinet Secretary’s response:
The Committee also wrote to a number of stakeholders seeking their views on the Bill. Read stakeholders’ comments:
The Committee considered the LCM when it took evidence from the Cabinet Secretary on 15 June 2020. The Committee published its report on 19 June; the Committee concluded that it was unable to make a recommendation in relation to the LCM.
The Committee subsequently wrote to the Presiding Officer and Finance and Constitution Committee to highlight its concerns in relation to the Bill and LCM. Read the letter and the response:
On 23 June 2020, the Convener made a committee announcement to the Chamber to draw members’ attention to the Committee’s report.
The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Committee to provide the Committee with an update on the progression of the UK Environment Bill. You will recall that the Parliament passed a Legislative Consent Motion in November for certain provisions of the UK Environment Bill that extend to Scotland in devolved competence. Read the letter:
Report
The Committee published its report on the UK Environment Bill LCM on 19 June 2020:
The Scottish Government responded to the Committee’s report on 7 September 2020. Read the response:
UK Fisheries Bill
The Committee then wrote to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 12 August 2020 setting out a number of questions and concerns. Read the letter:
New powers and common frameworks
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020
The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Committee with regard to legislating and implementing the scheme. Read the letters:
The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Committee on UK Government consultation on a Carbon Emissions Tax (CET) as an alternative carbon pricing mechanism, if the UK ETS cannot be linked to the EU ETS. read the letter:
Ahead of the Committee's meeting on 1 September, Sandbag shared its views of the proposed UK ETS. read their views:
The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Committee with an update on the UK ETS subsequent to the Scottish Parliament approving the Order in Council on 9 September:
At its meeting on 1 December 2020, the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee agreed to write to the UK Government and to its sister Committees in legislatures across the UK to highlight recent issues raised with regards to the above Common Framework. Read the letters:
The Committee wrote to the House of Lords Common Frameworks Committee on 26 January 2021 as part of that Committee’s inquiry into post-Brexit Common Frameworks. Read the letter: