§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress has been made on the Government's commitment in the UK sustainable development strategy to review the effectiveness of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; [15136]
(2) how many environmental appraisals were produced by his Department using the guidance contained in the Department of the Environment's "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [15116]
§ Mr. ClappisonWe shall shortly commission a project to evaluate the effect of the "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" document on decision making within government. A project specification has already been drawn up. The project should last for about six months.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the environmental appraisals produced for the policies used as examples and referred to in environmental appraisals in Government Departments. [15135]
§ Mr. ClappisonThis work was carried out two to three years ago. To retrieve the information and prepare it for publication could, in my view, be accomplished only at disproportionate cost.