§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve the communication of environmental ideas, problems and solutions to the public.
§ Mr. YeoMy colleagues and I take every opportunity to raise public awareness of environmental matters. The Department runs information campaigns on specific issues and encourages and supports local authorities, industry and the voluntary sector in their public information work in the environmental field. In order to get the environmental debate on a sound factual footing, we published in October last year "The UK Environment", the first comprehensive compilation of statistically based information on our environment. Returns from readers show that it has been welcomed as a positive contribution to improving public understanding.