§ 9. Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) Countryside Agency and (b) Rural Development Service employees will transfer to other government employment following the implementation of the Haskins Review; how many job losses she estimates there will be; and if she will make a statement. [139838]
§ Margaret BeckettIn my statement on 11 November, I announced my intention to create an integrated agency that would incorporate elements of the work of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service where those functions will most enable the agency to reflect its new remit. Plans for how this agency will be set up, including arrangements for transferring staff, are now being developed. I would hope to give more details in the spring.
§ 22. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she proposes that the independent role played by English Nature will be maintained under the proposals of the rural delivery review. [139851]
§ Alun MichaelThe intention is to strengthen the independent role currently played by English Nature, not merely to maintain it. In her statement on 11 November, the Secretary of State announced her intention to create an integrated agency to incorporate elements of the work of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. The integrated agency will use the experience and expertise of its constituent parts. English Nature's worldwide reputation on biodiversity matters provides a strong foundation for this work. The integrated agency will provide independent policy advice to Government and will implement policy within the framework of the Government's approach to sustainable development.
The exact status of the agency will be considered as part of the Government's full response and implementation plan, as my right hon. Friend made clear.