Background
Regulation is one of the main tools that the government is using to achieve the aims of its Environmental Improvement Plan. Effective environmental regulation protects people and the environment from harm and safeguards natural resources. It can also provide consistency and confidence for regulated businesses. However, ineffective, inconsistent or poorly-targeted regulation can fail to deliver the intended benefits to nature, while constraining business by increasing uncertainty or the costs of compliance.
The government has stated its intention to enable a more dynamic and streamlined approach to regulation, in order to drive economic growth while safeguarding nature. Achieving these aims depends in part on how efficiently and effectively environmental regulators, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), discharge their regulatory duties. Defra’s largest environmental regulators are the Environment Agency and Natural England.
Scope
This study will examine the extent to which the Environment Agency and Natural England are well-placed to maximise the benefits to the environment of how they regulate while ensuring costs to business are proportionate. It will include consideration of whether the regulators:
- have a clear strategic approach, objectives and priorities that align with government’s aims
- access and use good information and data to take a risk-based approach and target their work effectively
- have efficient processes and sufficient capacity and skills to discharge their duties as intended
NAO team
Director: Rich Sullivan-Jones
Senior Audit Manager: Hedley Ayres