Defra ministers, Caroline Spelman second from right.
Caroline Spelman, the Secretary of State for the Environment, announced reforms to more than 30 of Defra’s arm’s length bodies, many of which were ‘set up in a time when understanding of and engagement with environmental issues was less mainstream’. It is now understood that many of the functions these bodies currently undertake are part of what the Government does as a matter of course, and are therefore no longer necessary.
Caroline Spelman said:
“This Government is committed to being the greenest Government ever and the Structural Reform Plan published last week sets out how Defra will play its part in achieving this. Reducing the deficit is the priority for the Government and all departments are playing their part in making efficiency savings.
“Together with Chris Huhne I am determined to play the lead role in driving the sustainability agenda across the whole of government and I am not willing to delegate this responsibility to an external body.
“The effective delivery of public services is essential and I am committed to increasing the transparency and accountability of Defra’s public bodies and to reducing their numbers and costs. Times have changed since many of these bodies were set up and much of what they do is now everyday Government business.”
The Secretary of State announced that she will be:
- Withdrawing Defra funding from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC);
- Abolishing the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution;
- Abolishing the Agricultural Wages Board, the 15 Agricultural Wages Committees, the 16 Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees and the Committee on Agricultural Valuation;
- Abolishing the Inland Waterways Advisory Council; and
- Abolishing the Commons Commissioners.
Caroline Spelman continued:
“We will continue to liaise closely with the Sustainable Development Commission’s partners and will work with business, civil society, local communities, universities and internationally, to help deliver sustainable development together.
“The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee will provide powerful democratic scrutiny of Government’s work in this area.”
It is hoped the arm’s length body review will make Defra a stronger department – with a renewed and clearer focus on its key priorities and a simplified structure for delivering those priorities; underpinned by a robust, credible and efficient science base.
The Secretary of State will continue to look closely at other Defra arm’s length bodies and will make any further announcements as appropriate.
Defra’s Structural Reform Plan was also published last week which sets out three departmental strategic priorities:
- to support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production;
- to help to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve quality of life; and
- to support a strong and sustainable green economy, which is resilient to climate change.
Structural Reform Plans (SRPs) are the key tool of the Coalition Government for making departments accountable for the implementation of the reforms set out in the Coalition Agreement. They replace the old, top-down systems of targets and central micromanagement.
The reforms, set out in each department’s SRP, are designed to turn government on its head, taking power away from Whitehall and putting it into the hands of people and communities. Once these reforms are in place, it is hoped that people themselves will have the power to improve the country through the mechanisms of local democratic accountability, competition, choice, and social action. The reform plans set out in the document form part of the Department’s contribution to the Spending Review
A key commitment under this priority is the publication of a White Paper on the natural environment by spring 2011 and interested parties will have the opportunity to have a say in shaping the development of this Paper.