§ Ms RuddockTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [8668]
(2) if "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [8666]
(3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead"; [8669]
(4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [8667]
§ Mr. PageThe 1994 White Paper, "Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win" was the first comprehensive audit of the UK's competitive position. The 1995 White Paper, "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" updated the analysis, and it will be reviewed and developed further in the competitiveness White Paper due to be published later this year.
The White Papers have, analysed the main factors influencing competitiveness. They identified the primary responsibility of companies themselves to improve their competitive performance. They also outlined policies and initiatives across the whole of Government to help create the right framework and conditions to foster that improvement.
8WAgainst this background, the White Papers considered the relationship between environmental issues and competitiveness. The 1995 White Paper sets out the implications for business of the Government's commitment to sustainable development. It addresses the way that tax and regulatory policies are used to achieve environmental objectives and identifies the challenges and opportunities for business managers. There was no specific, separate written environmental appraisal of the White Papers themselves. It is a matter for each Government Department and individual company to consider and monitor the environmental implications of their activities in the normal way—including, where appropriate, the need for a written environmental appraisal.
Responsibility for managing the competitiveness agenda within the Government now lies with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Office of Public Service in the Cabinet Office.