HC Deb 03 December 1996 vol 286 cc572-3W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those departmental responsibilities which relate to(a) England, (b) England and Wales, (c) England, Wales and Scotland and (d) the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the approximate proportion of the time and budget of his Department which exclusively relates to each of the above categories. [5960]

Sir Paul Beresford

The Department of the Environment's responsibilities, which are set out in the Department's annual report, generally relate to England only. The main exceptions areEngland and Wales Drinking Water Inspectorate Environment Agency England, Wales and Scotland Policy responsibility for the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Countryside research and long-term monitoring programme Sponsorship of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee CITES licensing Registration of birds (Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) Monitoring and encouraging action to reduce Government Departments' empty residential properties. Maintenance of qualification list for building contractors and consultants wishing to undertake Government contracts (NB—the list is available for use in Great Britain and to a limited extent in Northern Ireland.) Health and Safety Commission/Executive British Waterways United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Policy responsibility and UK lead Department for: EC Birds Directive EC Habitats Directive UK Biodiversity Action Plan International Conservation Conventions (Bern, Bonn, Ramsar) Sponsorship of HOMES (Housing Organisation and Mobility Exchange Schemes) Environmental protection, including leading in international fora, in consultation with the relevant Northern Ireland Departments and the relevant Scottish and Welsh Offices UK Round Table on Sustainable Development Panel on Sustainable Development Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

Provision of information on the proportion of time and budget relating to each of the categories could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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