Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
The Environment Agency and Natural England have a key role to play in delivering government’s...
Conclusion
The Environment Agency and Natural England have a key role to play in delivering government’s environmental goals. Natural England confirmed that it has had its budget reduced by almost half in recent years which has affected its ability to meet demand for its services and deliver its work.31 As a result of this, it had discussions with the Department and received a 10% increase in grant in aid in 2019–20 to help it focus on getting ready for new duties under the Environment Bill, and to help ensure that it could carry out day-to-day responsibilities. It is hopeful that the increase in the Department’s budget, and particularly in areas that Natural England will be involved in, will similarly lead to a funding increase in 2020–21.32 The Environment Agency told us that its budget has also been under heavy pressure, and though it is not yet sure what its settlement from the Department will be for 2020–21, it remains committed to doing the best with the money it has. But it noted that, ultimately, “we will get the environment that we are prepared to pay for”.33
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: January 2023 (to align with the next Environmental Improvement Plan). 3.2 The establishment of new legally binding targets through the Environment Bill incorporates a robust framework for developing the economic case for action towards achieving the long-term goals of the Environment Plan. 3.3 Developing the costs and milestones towards the long-term legally binding targets will need to be iterative, given the range of activity supporting delivery of the Environment Plan, and emerging policy requirements. The annual progress reports and 5-yearly reviews of the environmental improvement plans will be used to build up the overall picture on performance and planning. There must also be consideration of the distributional impacts of targets and impact on domestic priorities, for example the impacts on consumers, specific sectors and regions. 3.4 The department has costed proposals and business cases for major programmes supporting air quality and cleaner transport, delivering major waste reforms towards a more circular economy, supporting woodland creation and improving flood resilience. Consultation on specific legally binding targets under the Environment Bill for biodiversity, waste, air and water will be supported by robust economic impact assessments to ensure value for money and deliverability, including expected costs to government and business associated with meeting targets individually and in aggregate. The department will work with HM Treasury to determine the costs of meeting the legally binding targets, details of which will be published in October 2022.