§ Baroness Rendell of Baberghasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will publish the forthcoming Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' sustainable development strategy. [HL4754]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)We have today published DEFRA's sustainable development strategy—Foundations fir our Future.
Foundations for our Future clarifies what sustainable development means in practice for Defra's policy development and decision-making, as well as its own operations. In particular the strategy: sets out the principles and processes which Defra needs to adopt to ensure all its policies address economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time, identifies Defra policy areas which pose the greatest challenges or can make the greatest contribution to the achievement of sustainable development, with a set of indicators to measure progress in these areas; and looks at the scope to contribute to sustainable development through Defra's own impacts (including energy, waste, travel, staff policies and procurement).
The strategy also commits my department to review annually the progress that we make against the principles, commitments and priorities that are included within the strategy. This review process will be open and participative, involving Defra's staff and stakeholders.
Copies of the strategy have been placed in the Library of the House. It is also available at: http://defraweb/environment/sustainable/index.htm.