Commentary on Sections Part 1: Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities Powers of Secretary of State Section 16: Directions
83.This section gives the Secretary of State power to give general or specific directions to Natural England and requires that those directions be published. Subsection (2) provides that the direction-giving power does not apply to functions that Natural England exercises through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (The Secretary of State has a separate power to give directions to that committee under section 38. See further below.)
84.Natural England must comply with directions given under this section.