HC Deb 20 March 2003 vol 401 c871W
Sue Doughty

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an interim statement on progress towards the development of(a) public expenditure programmes and (b) institutional arrangements needed to implement the recommendations of the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not, Want Not". [103697]

Mr. Meacher

Following last November's pre-Budget report, a Ministerial Group was established to consider a number of issues, including the proposed new public expenditure programme. The group has met on three occasions, and its decisions will form a key part of the Government's response to the Strategy Unit report. Defra has begun implementing a new institutional structure to drive delivery of the new programme, and is in the process of appointing a programme director.