2012 No. 2407
Environmental Protection
Public Bodies

The Public Bodies (Abolition of Environment Protection Advisory Committees) Order 2012

Made
Coming into force in accordance with article 1
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1(1), 6(1) and (5) and 35(2) of the Public Bodies Act 20111(“the Act), makes this Order.

In accordance with section 8 of the Act, the Secretary of State considers that this Order—

(a)

serves the purpose of improving the exercise of public functions, having regard to efficiency, effectiveness, economy and securing appropriate accountability to Ministers;

(b)

does not remove any necessary protection or prevent any person from continuing to exercise any right or freedom which that person might reasonably expect to continue to exercise.

The Secretary of State has consulted in accordance with section 10 of the Act.

A draft of this Order, and an explanatory document containing the information required in section 11(2) of the Act, have been laid before Parliament in accordance with section 11(1) after the end of the period of twelve weeks mentioned in section 11(3).

In accordance with section 11(4) of the Act, a draft of this Order has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament after the expiry of the 40-day period referred to in that provision.

Citation and commencement1.

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Public Bodies (Abolition of Environment Protection Advisory Committees) Order 2012.

(2)

Article 2 comes into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

(3)

Article 3 comes into force on the day after article 2 comes into force.

Abolition of Environment Protection Advisory Committees2.

(1)

The Environment Protection Advisory Committees established under section 122 of the Environment Act 19953 are abolished, except the one established pursuant to subsection (6) of that section (“the Welsh Environment Protection Advisory Committee”).

(2)

The duties of the Environment Agency under subsection (1) of that section cease to have effect, except in relation to the Welsh Environment Protection Advisory Committee.

Repeal in relation to the Public Bodies Act 20113.

In Schedule 1 to the Public Bodies Act 2011, the entry relating to Environment Protection Advisory Committees is repealed.

Richard Benyon
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order abolishes the Environment Protection Advisory Committees established in England under section 12(1) of the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) and removes the requirement for the Environment Agency to establish and maintain those committees. No impact assessment has been carried out as no impact on business is foreseen.