Environment Act 2021

28 Monitoring and reporting on environmental improvement plans and targets

(1) The OEP must monitor progress—

(a) in improving the natural environment in accordance with the current environmental improvement plan,

(b) towards meeting any targets set under sections 1 to 3, and

(c) towards meeting any interim targets set under sections 11 and 14.

(2) The OEP must prepare a progress report for each annual reporting period.

(3) A progress report for an annual reporting period is a report on progress made in that period in or towards the matters listed in subsection (1).

(4) An annual reporting period is a period for which the Secretary of State must prepare a report under section 9 (a “section 9 report”).

(5) In reporting on progress made in an annual reporting period, the OEP must consider—

(a) the section 9 report for that period,

(b) the data published by the Secretary of State under section 16 that relates to that period, and

(c) any other reports, documents or information it considers appropriate.

(6) A progress report for an annual reporting period may include—

(a) consideration of how progress could be improved, and

(b) consideration of the adequacy of the data published by the Secretary of State under section 16.

(7) The OEP must—

(a) arrange for its reports under this section to be laid before Parliament, and

(b) publish them.

(8) A progress report for an annual reporting period must be laid no later than 6 months after the section 9 report for that period is laid before Parliament.

(9) The Secretary of State must—

(a) respond to a report under this section, and

(b) lay before Parliament, and publish, a copy of the response.

(10) Where a report under this section contains a recommendation for how progress could be improved, the response must address that recommendation.

(11) The response—

(a) must be laid no later than 12 months after the report is laid, and

(b) may be included in a section 9 report.