Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the members of each Environment Agency regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committee; and whether they have an(a) angling, (b) navigation and (c) recreational interest. [34961]
§ Mr. MorleyThere is no statutory requirement to have recreation and navigation interests on the RFERA Committees but the agency has determined, with the consent of Ministers, that these should be represented. Relevant details of the membership of each RFERA Committee have been placed in the Library of the House.
There are also generic rules for the balance of interests on these Committees which should have no more than 21 members:
1358W
Interest Group Members Academic/professional 1 Recreation 2 Conservation 1 Cross-membership with other committees 3 or 4 Riparian owners 1 or 2 Navigation 1 (except 4 in Thames and 3 in Anglia) Fisheries 11
Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria were used to appoint chairmen and members of the Environment Agency Regional Fisheries Ecology and Recreation Advisory committees. [34930]
§ Mr. MorleyflThis Department is responsible only for the appointment of the Chair of each of the Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees in England and is not directly involved in the appointment of the Committee members.
Details of the criteria which DEFRA and the Environment Agency are using for the appointment of the Chairs and members of the RFERACs have been placed in the Library of the House
Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if advertisements for the chairs of the Environment Agency regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committees were placed in boating and canoeing magazines; and if she will make a statement. [34928]
§ Mr. MorleyIn accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidance, taking into account the role and remit of these posts, proportionality and available resources, advertisements were placed inThe Times, the Sunday Times and the Anglers Mail. The advert also appeared on the Department's website.