Committee publication · Correspondence · 6 May 2025

Correspondence from the Defra Permanent Secretary relating to progress on Post Implementation Reviews, dated 30 April 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies

Summary

Dame Tamara Finkelstein, Defra Permanent Secretary, reports progress on clearing Post Implementation Reviews (PIRs). Since October 2024, Defra published 40 PIRs, including 32 from the backlog. Of 43 originally overdue PIRs reported in February 2024, 10 remain. The department published 22 additional PIRs in 2025 to date and commits to clearing the backlog by end of 2025.

Key findings

Since October 2024, Defra published 40 PIRs, including 32 from the previously reported backlog of overdue reviews
Total of 37 PIRs published in 2024 (compared to 25 in 2023 and 1 in 2022), demonstrating accelerated publication rate
Of the 43 overdue PIRs reported in February 2024, 10 remain outstanding; 2 are in Regulatory Policy Committee review, 3 awaiting ministerial clearance
Four PIRs published ahead of statutory deadlines; two PIRs missed deadlines but have since been published (Food Information Regulations 2014 and Official Controls Plant Protection Products Regulations 2020)
Internal digital tracking app has improved departmental focus on PIR programme; working closely with Regulatory Policy Committee Secretariat on approach

Tone

Procedural

Topics

regulatory-reformgovernment-accountabilitypost-implementation-reviewstatutory-obligations

Key actors

Dame Tamara Finkelstein, Alistair Carmichael MP, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Regulatory Policy Committee

Notable line

“I remain committed to ensuring that the backlog is cleared at the earliest opportunity and that Defra's statutory review obligations are met going forwards.”

Key Quotes

“Since October 2024, Defra has published 40 PIRs. This includes 32 PIRs from the previously reported backlog of overdue PIRs.”
— Dame Tamara Finkelstein · reporting on PIR publication progress

“Of the 43 overdue PIRs reported to the Committee in February 2024, 10 remain to be completed.”
— Dame Tamara Finkelstein · status of outstanding reviews

“… the internal digital App that we have developed has greatly improved the tracking and focus of the programme within the department”
— Dame Tamara Finkelstein · explaining administrative improvements to PIR management

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗