Government Response to the Environment and Climate Change Committee report 'Nitrogen: time to reduce, recycle, reuse'

This is the government's response, published 9 October 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government agrees with the Committee's priority of simplifying regulation and toughening enforcement, notes the circular approach priority, and partially agrees with the priority of a more strategic approach, saying it does not "see the value in producing a separate strategy for nitrogen".

• On regulation and enforcement, it "agrees with this priority" and says it will double Environment Agency farm inspection funding to reach "a record 6000 a year by 2029".
• On a national Nitrogen Balance Sheet, it "partially agrees" and will "consider whether a similar approach would add value in England", after looking at how it works in Scotland.
• On mandating covered slurry stores and low-emission spreading by 2027, it "partially agrees", saying the earlier timelines "are no longer realistic" and that any new requirements will be communicated to farmers before regulations take effect.
• On extending environmental permitting to large dairy and beef farms, it is "actively exploring whether to expand" it and will give further detail through the Environmental Improvement Plan.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error