Hollowed-out Defra leaves in doubt key functions, MPs say

clock • 3 min read

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee questions whether cuts to environment department budget would allow it to operate effectively in future

The gutting of the budget for the UK government's already "hollowed-out" environment department has left in doubt key functions including flood protection, pollution, food production, farming and animal...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

The conservative case for extended producer responsibility

The conservative case for extended producer responsibility

EPR is a means of applying one of the most classically conservative ideas in economics: the polluter pays principle, writes Kitty Thompson from the Conservative Environment Network

Kitty Thompson, Conservative Environment Network
clock 19 December 2025 • 5 min read
Can the UK boost food security when facing falling farming incomes and worsening climate impacts?

Can the UK boost food security when facing falling farming incomes and worsening climate impacts?

Independent Farming Profitability Review sets out 57 recommendations to the government, including making nature risk reporting mandatory for UK businesses

Michael Holder
clock 18 December 2025 • 8 min read
MPs warn 'structural barriers' to net zero transition risk hampering UK growth

MPs warn 'structural barriers' to net zero transition risk hampering UK growth

Cross-party group of MPs urge government to urgently tackle 'bottlenecks' to decarbonisation and barriers to investment in green energy, transport, buildings, and industry

Michael Holder
clock 18 December 2025 • 5 min read