9Annual reports on environmental improvement plans
(1)The Secretary of State must prepare annual reports on the implementation of the current environmental improvement plan.
(2)An annual report must—
(a)describe what has been done, in the period to which the report relates, to implement the environmental improvement plan, and
(b)consider, having regard to any data obtained under section 16, whether the natural environment has, or particular aspects of it have, improved during that period.
(3)In considering the matters in subsection (2)(b) an annual report must consider the progress that has been made towards achieving—
(a)any targets, or any relevant targets, set under sections 1 to 3, and
(b)any interim targets, or any relevant interim targets, set under sections 11 and 14.
(4)The first annual report on the first environmental improvement plan may relate to any 12 month period that includes the day on which this section comes into force.
(5)The first annual report on a subsequent environmental improvement plan must relate to the first 12 months of the period to which the plan relates.
(6)Subsequent annual reports on an environmental improvement plan must relate to the 12 month period immediately following the 12 month period to which the previous annual report relates.
(7)An annual report must be laid before Parliament before the end of the 4 month period beginning immediately after the last day of the period to which the report relates.
(8)The Secretary of State must publish annual reports laid before Parliament under this section.