The Department for Environment, Food Rural Affairs recently sought views on proposals to strengthen the Environment Agency’s penalties for offences committed by water companies in England. The consultation covered the introduction of new penalties, including allowing the Environment Agency to impose variable monetary penalties to the civil standard of proof for a range of permit and licence breaches, as well as other permitting, abstraction, impounding and drought offences. It also proposes setting a cap for these variable monetary penalties, introducing new automatic penalties to streamline enforcement for offences that can be quickly identified and evidenced, and establishing a value for the new automatic penalty. The consultation closed 3 December 2025.

The government has established the Water Skills Strategic Group, co-chaired by Defra and Energy Utility Skills, to ensure the water industry has the skilled workforce required for record investment and reform. Meeting quarterly until March 2030, the group brings together senior leaders from government, industry, and training bodies to coordinate skills development across England and Wales. Its objectives include supporting £104bn in infrastructure investment, creating over 30,000 jobs, and enabling major projects such as new reservoirs and water transfer schemes. Water Minister Emma Hardy emphasised the importance of skilled jobs for sector transformation, while Paul Cox of Energy Utility Skills highlighted the need for collaboration and expertise to deliver lasting benefits and sustainable water provision.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published updated Food Law Codes of Practice and Practice Guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, marking a significant step in modernising food law enforcement. Developed through extensive consultation with local councils and stakeholders, the updates aim to provide a more flexible, risk-based approach, enabling councils to target resources for improved public health outcomes. Key changes include flexible initial controls for new food businesses, increased use of alternative control methods such as remote assessments, and broadening the cohort of professionals involved in official controls.