§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Department's policies have been screened for their environmental impact since June 2001; how many environmental appraisals have been conducted, and on what policy issues; and what information has been published about these screenings and appraisals. [124716]
§ Mr. CaplinThree environmental appraisals of policy work are currently under way. These are: RAF Strategic Review of RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham, Defence Training Review and the Defence Estates Core Sites Strategy.
To address the requirements for policy level environmental appraisal the Department is trialling an Integrated Policy Appraisal (IPA) tool in conjunction with other Government Departments. Work has commenced on two pilot appraisals: The New Chapter of the Strategic Defence Review and the UK Military Flying and Training System (UKMFTS).
A number of environmental appraisals and more detailed assessments have been carried out on a programmes and projects brought about as a result of policy decisions arising from the Strategic Environmental Appraisal (SEA) of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in July 2000. Appraisals and, when required, more detailed assessments are carried out for site re-organisation, training exercises and the deployment of specific equipment. This work is supported by the Ministry of Defence's Sustainability Appraisal Handbook (2002).
Information regarding individual appraisals and assessments are not held centrally at present. However, when appraisal tools are more fully integrated into business processes, MOD will be able to report on numbers of appraisals carried out and also, depending on the subject area, results of the appraisal.