§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice his Department has given to other Government Departments about the use of environmental appraisals in respect of new policy. [29807]
§ Angela EagleThe importance of environmental appraisal was discussed at the first meeting of Green Ministers following the Election, on 31 July 1997. At that meeting Green Ministers committed themselves to ensure that environmental issues were considered in the development of all Government policies.
Details of current and proposed guidance by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to Government Departments on environmental appraisal are set out in the answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 16 February 1998, Official Report, column 460.