§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to develop an interdepartmental conservation and development co-ordinating unit with a mandate to examine departmental policy and investment proposals prior to their presentation to Cabinet.
§ Mr. NewtonI have been asked to reply.
This is not necessary. Cabinet procedure already requires that all papers which are prepared for Cabinet and ministerial committees should, where appropriate, cover any significant costs or benefits to the environment. There is a ministerial committee on the environment, whose terms of reference are
to consider questions of environmental policy".Each Government Department has a Minister responsible for environmental matters in his or her Department. There is also other co-ordinating machinery.