§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when preparations began (1) for the transfer of responsibility for environmental sustainability to the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; [276]
(2) for the reorganisation of Whitehall responsibilities involved in the creation of the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; [199]
(3) for the transfer of responsibility for the Environment Agency to the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [197]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 June 2001]In keeping with normal practice, contingency work was undertaken within the civil service during the election campaign, on the basis of proposals published in party manifestos.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the role of rural advocate will change because of the creation of her Department. [267]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 June 2001]No. The role of the rural advocate, as the Government's statutory adviser on the countryside, is to argue the case on countryside issues and for rural people at the highest levels across Government and outside. That task will be assisted by bringing together rural policy responsibilities in my Department but many other Departments have responsibility for policy areas with a major impact on rural communities.