§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's(a) plans and (b) timetable are for implementing the EU Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. [118815]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for implementing this Directive (2001/42/EC "on the assessment of the effects166W on the environment of certain plans and programmes") in the UK. It must be transposed into national law by 21 July 2004, and Regulations are being prepared to achieve this. Work is also in hand to develop capacity in the organisations that will have responsibilities for the Directive, including local authorities, regional planning bodies and Government agencies. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has carried out a public consultation exercise on draft guidance for planning authorities on how to meet the Directive's requirements, and the finished guidance will be published later this year.