§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the selection of a chief executive for the proposed Environment Agency. [32195]
§ Mr. GummerThe Environment Agency advisory committee, chaired by Lord De Ramsey, has chosen Mr. Ed Gallagher, currently chief executive of the National Rivers Authority, to be the Environment Agency's first chief executive. Mr. Gallagher was selected following an open competition. Subject to enactment of the Environment Bill, he is expected to be appointed chief executive by the agency when it is established later this year.