Recommendation 22

In discussing the reporting obligations of the Office, the Department explained that it will report to Ministers, who can then be held to account by Parliament. We noted that this is in contrast to the Climate Change Committee, which must report directly to Parliament.55 The Department told us that Ministers will not have power over the work programme and decision making of the Office, and will have a duty to have regard to its independence. The Office itself will also have a duty to operate objectively and impartially.56 53 Qq 89 54 Q 90 55 Qq 85–87 56 Q 87 Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals 15