Recommendation 12

When we asked the regulators what they would most value from Defra to improve the way they can regulate, both responded that they need clarity of outcomes and frameworks, standards and rules, and targets and performance metrics. Natural England told us it wants to know what work it should prioritise, but does not have the resources to address all Defra requirements concurrently.27 It wants Defra to provide a clear framework it should operate in, which would allow its staff to innovate within this framework.28 The Environment Agency told us it wants more clarity on priorities in the water sector, including the environmental outcomes Defra wants.29