Part 1: Environmental Governance Chapter 1: Improving the natural environment Section 12: Reviewing and revising plans: other requirements
Section 12 sets out what the Secretary of State must consider when reviewing an environmental improvement plan (EIP). Given section 8(6), this section applies only in relation to England.
	Subsection (1) sets out that the Secretary of State must take the following into consideration when reviewing an EIP:
what steps the government has taken to implement the EIP since it was published, or (if it has been reviewed before) since it was last reviewed;
whether the natural environment (or particular aspects of it) has improved during that period; and
whether the government should take further or different steps compared to those in the plan to improve the natural environment in the remaining period of the EIP.
	When considering whether the natural environment has improved, the Secretary of State must have regard to data obtained under section 16 and reports made by the Office of Environmental Protection under section 28.
	In addition, subsection (2) requires the Secretary of State, when considering whether the natural environment (or particular aspects of it) has improved, to consider the progress made towards meeting the targets (or any relevant targets) set under sections 1, 2 and 3, and the interim targets (or any relevant interim targets) set under section 11 or 14.
	Subsection (3) requires the Secretary of State, when considering whether further or different steps should be taken to improve the natural environment, to consider whether further or different steps should be taken to meet those targets.