300 commitments tracked

- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs published a policy statement in 2025 confirming that the Water (Special Measures) Act received Royal Assent on 24 February 2025 (Water (Special Measures) Bill Policy Statement, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2025). - The policy statement confirmed that the Act significantly strengthens the power of water industry regulators and delivers on the government’s commitment to put failing water companies under special measures (Water (Special Measures) Bill Policy Statement, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2025).

- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced on 6 June 2025 that unfair bonuses for senior executives at six water companies (Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Wessex Water, United Utilities, and Southern Water) were banned with immediate effect (Government's new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 6 June 2025). - The announcement stated that this action delivers on a key manifesto commitment and is backdated to apply to bonuses relating to the financial year from April 2024 (Government's new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 6 June 2025).

- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Environment Agency announced on 22 October 2025 that a consultation had been launched on expanding financial penalties for environmental offences (New financial penalties for environmental offences, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, and The Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP, 22 October 2025). - The consultation includes proposals for water companies to face quicker penalties of up to £500,000, allowing the Environment Agency to use a lower civil standard of proof, and introducing new automatic penalties for specific breaches (New financial penalties for environmental offences, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, and The Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP, 22 October 2025). - The press release stated that these bolstered powers were created in the Water (Special Measures) Act but require consultation before implementation (New financial penalties for environmental offences, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, and The Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP, 22 October 2025).

- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs published a policy statement in 2025 confirming that the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 delivers on the government’s promise of ensuring monitoring of every sewage outlet (Water (Special Measures) Bill Policy Statement, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2025).

- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced on 27 December 2025 the creation of the 21-kilometre ‘Mersey Valley Way’ as the first of nine new National River Walks (First new National River Walk announced, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Baroness Hayman of Ullock, 27 December 2025). - The announcement confirmed this walk is part of the government’s manifesto pledge to create nine new walks, one for each region of England (First new National River Walk announced, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Baroness Hayman of Ullock, 27 December 2025).

Western Forest (Cotswolds to Mendips) announced Mar 2025. Second forest confirmed for Oxford-Cambridge corridor Nov 2025. Competition for third launched early 2026. Over £1bn allocated for tree planting.

Intensive and supplementary cull licences ended by close of 2025 season with no new licences. At least one cull remains active in Cumbria hotspot. Strategy shifted to cattle testing, biosecurity and badger vaccination.

Animal Welfare Strategy (Dec 2025) committed to ban. Consultation originally planned 2025 pushed to Mar 2026. No legislation introduced yet.

Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill introduced as PMB 13 Jan 2025 with government support. Nature Minister reaffirmed commitment Dec 2025 but no government bill introduced. Previous versions fell in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 24 Feb 2025. Includes criminal liability for senior executives, automatic penalties for pollution incidents, and powers to block bonuses.

Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 passed. Environment Agency inspections increased. Storm overflow monitoring at 100% of outlets. But total spill hours rose in 2024. Halving by 2029 requires sustained reduction.

- The commitment's current evidence states that an animal welfare legislation review is underway, puppy smuggling provisions are being developed, and a ban on import of dogs with cropped ears and cats with mutilations is under consideration (Commitment MC-212 description, undated).

- The commitment's current evidence states that the Water (Special Measures) Bill was introduced in October 2024 and received Royal Assent (Commitment MC-242 description, undated). - The current evidence also states that this legislation gives Ofwat powers to ban bonuses for polluting water company bosses and introduces criminal liability for persistent polluters (Commitment MC-242 description, undated). - No further published evidence specific to this commitment has been identified since October 2024.

- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs published the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023, which sets out a plan for delivering environmental goals including woodland creation and managing woodlands for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable forestry (Environmental Improvement Plan 2023, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, February 2023). - No further published evidence specific to the delivery of planting millions of trees or restoring peatlands and wetlands has been identified since February 2023.