HC Deb 23 April 1996 vol 276 c62W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is Government policy to apply the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" to all Government policy statements where they are likely to have a significant direct or indirect effect on the environment. [25624]

Mr. Clappison

The guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" stresses that policy appraisal is applicable across the whole range of policies and programmes, and not just those with environmental objectives. The guide therefore raises awareness of the role of appraisal in the development of policies which have both direct and indirect environmental impacts.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used to determine when the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is to be applied to(a) Government consultation papers, (b) Bills before Parliament, (c) White Papers and (d) planning policy guidance notes. [25623]

Mr. Clappison

Systematic appraisal, as described in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", should automatically be part of effective policy formulation where there are likely to be both direct and indirect effects on the environment. No other criteria are required to determine cases where the guidance in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" should be applied.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" pertains to(a) Government consultation papers, (b) Bills before Parliament, (c) White Papers, (d) planning policy guidance notes and (e) policy statements. [25622]

Mr. Clappison

The guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" has been designed so that it is relevant for all stages of policy development, from the consultation stage through to policy statements.

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