Recommendation 9

The departments explained that the joint unit responsible for delivering the Action Plan relies on sponsor departments to communicate risk appetite and growth steers through strategic policy statements for the Action Plan’s 16 key regulators.15 DBT told us that work to ensure all 16 key regulators have steers is ongoing, but to date only the three initially announced in the Action Plan have been completed.16 These are the steers issued by DBT to the Competition Market Authority, and two issued by Defra to the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE). HM Treasury highlighted the EA and NE steers as examples which help regulators to balance objectives.17 This is true, however, neither prioritise growth over environmental concerns.18 DBT told us it planned to introduce legislation to make all steers statutory.19 Without royal assent the steers are no more than letters of intent. DBT told us that this is important since regulators’ decisions are subject to judicial review.20 9 C&AG’s report, para 1.29 10 HMT, New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, 17 March 2025 (updated 21 October 2025) 11 Q 16 12 Qq 11, 45 and 47 13 C&AG’s report, para 6 14 Yemi Oluseun (RFG0003); Chemical Industries Association (RFG007) 15 Qq 21-23 16 Q 24 17 Q 21 18 Defra, Strategic Policy Statement for the Environment Agency - GOV.UK, 12 March 2026; Defra, Strategic Policy Statement for Natural England - GOV.UK, 12 March 2026 19 Qq 24-29 20 Q 27 8 Defining and delivering growth