§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to establish specialist environmental prosecutors to deal with environmental crime; and if she will make a statement. [154966]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 23 February 2004]The Government have no plans to establish specialist environmental prosecutors to deal with environmental crime. Responsibility for prosecutions for environmental crime rests with the Crown Prosecution service, the courts, the police, local authorities, HM Customs and Excise and with agencies of Government including the Environment Agency, Countryside Agency and English Nature.