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Establish protocols for Defra's professional information sharing and investigate policy leaks.

Recommendation
Defra should ensure that operational and policy decisions are clearly communicated to its arm’s-length bodies and the farming advice service in advance of them being made public. It should investigate the causes of the leaks of its proposed changes to the Capital Grants and SFI schemes and put protocols in place to support proper and professional information sharing. Details revised protocols should be set out in the response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62)
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 3 September 2025. Response attribution to this recommendation has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Timeline
Recommendation age 1.3 yr
Report published 16 May 2025