Immigration analysis: This considers the impact of R (AYA) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, where the High Court heard a group of cases related to the 'France one in one out scheme' together and held that the Secretary of State acted unlawfully in amending the Modern Slavery Act statutory guidance so as to remove the right to request reconsideration of negative reasonable grounds and conclusive grounds decisions. Mr Justice Sheldon held that the amendment unlawfully diluted the effectiveness of the UK’s victim-identification mechanism, amounted to an unlawful fetter on discretion, and frustrated the purpose of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA 2015). But the court rejected most of the individual challenges to removal-related decisions.

The National Radiological Protection Board was a authority'>public authority in the UK created by the Radiological Protection Act 1970. In 2005 NRPB was amalgamated into the Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) which is a division of the HPA.

Natural Resources Wales: The new environmental regulator for Wales with oversight of the Wylfa Newydd project.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has announced a refreshed online Forest Management Plan (FMP) process to support longer-term woodland management. The new process replaces the paper-based application system with a guided online application that was developed in response to feedback from applicants and stakeholders. NRW states that the refreshed process is intended to make FMP applications clearer, more accessible and easier to complete, while continuing to provide longer-term felling permissions to support sustainable woodland management. It also includes integrated step-by-step guidance covering the preparation, submission and management of approved FMPs. New applications must now be submitted through the refreshed process, while existing approved FMPs and applications already in progress will continue unchanged. NRW states that the process aligns with the UK Forestry Standard (2023) and the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2024, retains operational flexibility for approved FMPs to enable woodland owners and managers to respond to changing circumstances, and will support future woodland management funding opportunities through the Welsh Government's Woodland Management Scheme from 2027.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has called on the people of North East Wales to help protect and prevent environmental damage to its upland landscapes caused by illegal off-roading. Off-roading by motorised vehicles can cause distress and have a harmful impact on wildlife and local communities. This call comes after reports of illegal off-road activities in the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued a warning to landfill site owners Enovert North Ltd following a fire at Hafod Quarry Landfill in May 2020.  Although the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service ‘concluded that the fire was likely the result of spontaneous combustion following a prolonged period of dry weather’, NRW has since carried its own investigation. NRW found no evidence to suggest that Enovert’s actions caused the fire. However, it nevertheless ‘did identify improvements needed relating to the application of landfill cover materials which led to a non-compliance of the permit’, and, as a result, ‘issued a warning letter to Enovert notifying them of this breach and has required the operator to complete a number of corrective actions to secure compliance with the permit’.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has launched the Reservoir Safety Reform programme, a collaborative effort with the Welsh Government, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Environment Agency. This programme is intended to be implemented over several years, aiming to establish reservoir safety practices and implement change through stakeholder engagement, consultation, the provision of guidance, and new legislation. It also seeks to address the recommendations outlined in the Independent Reservoir Safety Review Report.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has launched its second consultation on the management and protection of Wales’s rivers, lakes, streams, groundwater, and coastal waters. NRW is updating River Basin management plans for the Western Wales and Dee River Basin Districts, revised every six years to set strategic direction, assess water conditions, and identify measures to meet statutory standards. Sustainable Water and Nature Manager, Dr Rhian Thomas, emphasised the pressures on Welsh waters from climate change and human activity and encouraged public participation to shape future management ambitions. The Severn River Basin Management Plan, developed with the Environment Agency in England, will open for consultation later this year. NRW has also published an interim progress report on the 2021–27 plans. The consultation will run until 21 April 2026.

Natural Resources Wales(NRW) has  published a Wales-wide assessment of the conservation status of habitats and species, bringing together evidence on internationally significant habitats, non-bird species and all bird species to establish a national baseline and inform the State of Natural Resources Report for Wales, while calling for urgent, collective action to address ongoing biodiversity decline. The assessment found that most habitats and species remain in poor condition, with only two of 61 habitats in favourable condition across Wales and nearly 80% classed as unfavourable-bad, alongside limited recovery among non-bird species and continued serious declines in several, including Atlantic salmon, despite increases in some bird populations such as the Atlantic puffin. It identified agriculture, climate change, pollution, urban development, disease and water-related pressures as the principal drivers of decline, and concluded that, although the scale of the challenge is significant, targeted, long-term and partnership-led action, supported by robust evidence, can enable habitat and species recovery and guide Wales’ response to the nature and climate emergencies.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published the interim 2025 State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR 2025), as mandated by section 8 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (E(W)A 2016). The interim report emphasises the urgent need for collective action to combat the degradation of natural resources in Wales amid escalating nature, climate, and pollution emergencies. While acknowledging progress in areas such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing recycling rates, the report also highlights ongoing environmental challenges, including the accelerating loss of biodiversity, climate change impacts, and pollution. The full SoNaRR 2025 report, scheduled for publication by the end of 2025, will provide an updated evidence base to guide the Welsh Government, public bodies, and other groups in supporting the sustainable management of natural resources in Wales, particularly in light of the upcoming Senedd election in 2026.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published its Sustainable Growth and Value Strategy 2027–31, outlining its commercial activities in four key areas: (1) business development; (2) commercial recreation; (3) renewable energy and timber sales; and (4) marketing. Developed following stakeholder consultations conducted in early 2026, the strategy is designed to generate income for reinvestment across the 120,000-hectare Welsh Government Woodland Estate.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published its 2023 annual regulation report, highlighting a significant increase in environmental incidents and regulatory activities. The report indicates a 17% increase in reported incidents, totalling 8,505, with water-related issues accounting for 39% of cases. NRW expanded its compliance checks, with water discharge inspections rising by 37% and intensive farming checks by 48%. The agency opened 831 new enforcement cases and secured 85 successful prosecutions, resulting in £648,320 in fines. NRW emphasises the need for agile regulatory approaches to address challenges posed by climate change, nature decline, and emerging industries in the transition to net zero. The report underscores NRW's commitment to effective environmental protection whilst acknowledging the need for innovative resource allocation and prioritisation of actions to achieve optimal outcomes for both people and nature.