The Environmental Principles Policy Statement is a distinctive and essential feature of the UK’s environmental governance framework, providing a clear and legally recognised foundation for embedding environmental protection across government policy, and we welcome the Committee’s focus on the environmental principles and their importance. The Policy Statement sits at the heart of our approach, providing the framework through which we identify risks and prioritise action to protect the environment and public health, and has been given due regard to in the development of the PFAS Plan. As a result, our response to PFAS is grounded in a strong commitment to safeguarding both the environment and public health through proportionate, evidence-based action. An example of our commitment to the environmental principles is reflected in our application of the Precautionary Principle. Due to the very high persistence of PFAS there is plausible evidence that a risk of serious or irreversible pollution could occur if PFAS emissions continue. There remains uncertainty over the scale of potential harm of PFAS and its impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, biodiversity and public health. The PFAS Plan’s approach recognises this concern, and the actions are supported by consideration of the Precautionary Principle. The plan sets out how we are strengthening our understanding of PFAS and taking targeted action to reduce their presence in the environment. It outlines a coordinated set of interventions which, when taken together, identify the key sources of harmful PFAS and how they move through the environment, allowing us to take action to stop them.