Policy and practice reviews

While there has been considerable change in the economy and environment of the UK countryside in the post‐war period, the basic divisions of responsibility of government agencies still reflect the framework established in the 1940s. However, the functions of these agencies have changed and expanded to embrace new environmental responsibilities. This ‘agency overspill’ leaves the definition of responsibilities of countryside agencies unclear and raises the issue of competition between them. It is argued that competition need not be counterproductive where agencies fill distinctive roles and where there is some degree of co‐ordination.