Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what obligations have been placed on Natural England to (a) consult and (b) engage with stakeholder organisations on the exercise of the functions of Natural England.
Natural England has a number of functions vested in it by various specific enactments, some of which contain specific requirements to consult in certain circumstances. In addition, as a Government regulator, Natural England must have regard to the Regulator’s Code issued under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 as well as comply with appropriate Government policies and procedures on regulation.