§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the delivery of environmental policy, with particular 269WS reference to the allocation of departmental responsibilities and the separation between policy making in DEFRA and policy delivery in other Departments. [89068]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government have made significant improvements across a range of environmental policy areas. The UK now has the cleanest rivers, beaches, air and drinking water since the industrial revolution. Greenhouse gas emissions were 13 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2000, with policies to improve energy efficiency taking 350,000 households out of fuel poverty since 1997, with a further 200,000 expected by 2004.
In addition we have delivered improvements to sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), increases in the green belt, and increased the proportion of new housing built on brownfield land. The Government's Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming, published in December 2002, set out further proposals for redirecting agricultural support to environmental goals.
Full assessment of the effectiveness of the delivery of environmental policy can be found in Defra's first annual report, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2002/index.htm. This report provides an overview of the Department's objectives, and assesses progress against key targets. Responsibility for two of Defra's Public Service Agreement targets (PSAs) is shared with other Government Departments: with DTI for the target relating to greenhouse gases; and with DfT for the target relating to local air quality, reflecting the need for joint efforts to achieve the desired outcomes.
The independent Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) assessed the UK's environmental policy and delivery in November. This report highlights areas in which progress has been made since the previous review in 1994, as well as identifying areas where more remains to be done. A copy is in the Library of the House and is available at http://www.oecd.org/E/home/0" EN-home-478-nodirectorateno-no- no-21,00.html