DEFRA gets more bad press over water framework Directive

The Government's strategy for implementing the EU water framework Directive in England has been called seriously into question during a House of Commons inquiry. Witnesses have queued up to criticise the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for its slowness off the mark and faltering attempts to engage stakeholders. Acute concern has also been voiced that the Government's policy of not gold-plating EU legislation will lead to higher implementation costs and the risk of legal proceedings against the UK.