This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/08/hollowed-out-environment-department-leaves-in-doubt-key-functions-mps-say

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hollowed-out Defra leaves in doubt key functions, MPs say Hollowed-out Defra leaves in doubt key functions, MPs say
(1 day later)
The gutting of the budget for the UK government’s already “hollowed-out” environment department has left in doubt key functions including flood protection, pollution, food production, farming and animal welfare, a committee of MPs has found.The gutting of the budget for the UK government’s already “hollowed-out” environment department has left in doubt key functions including flood protection, pollution, food production, farming and animal welfare, a committee of MPs has found.
Funding for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is to be cut by 15% over the next four years. This comes on top of much deeper cuts - of about a quarter of its budget - under the previous coalition government. Funding for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is to be cut by 15% over the next four years. This comes on top of much deeper cuts - of about a quarter of its budget - under the previous coalition government.
The department, with a £2bn-a-year annual budget, is responsible for maintaining the UK’s flood defences, protecting farms against animal and plant diseases - including foot-and-mouth disease - and the UK’s waterways, seas, coast and fisheries.The department, with a £2bn-a-year annual budget, is responsible for maintaining the UK’s flood defences, protecting farms against animal and plant diseases - including foot-and-mouth disease - and the UK’s waterways, seas, coast and fisheries.
Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee issued a special note on Tuesday questioning whether the government’s planned cuts to the department’s budget would allow it to operate effectively in the future.Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee issued a special note on Tuesday questioning whether the government’s planned cuts to the department’s budget would allow it to operate effectively in the future.
The influential committee of MPs said: “The challenges facing Defra are, first, whether the reduced budget available to it is sufficient for its task, and second how to make the correct policy choices so as to allocate smaller funds effectively.”The influential committee of MPs said: “The challenges facing Defra are, first, whether the reduced budget available to it is sufficient for its task, and second how to make the correct policy choices so as to allocate smaller funds effectively.”
They went on: “We have so far received only the barest details of how Defra intends to provide services against budget cuts over this parliament, and on whether it can find all the necessary savings from administrative efficiencies or if it will also need to alter the services it delivers or how it charges for them.”They went on: “We have so far received only the barest details of how Defra intends to provide services against budget cuts over this parliament, and on whether it can find all the necessary savings from administrative efficiencies or if it will also need to alter the services it delivers or how it charges for them.”
On key issues such as flood defences, the MPs raised concerns. For instance, the funding plan for Defra relies on the government securing £600m from external sources to meet the amounts judged necessary for putting in place new flood defences and maintaining existing ones.On key issues such as flood defences, the MPs raised concerns. For instance, the funding plan for Defra relies on the government securing £600m from external sources to meet the amounts judged necessary for putting in place new flood defences and maintaining existing ones.
But the committee said that only £61m had been raised from private sector sources to meet these targets. Along with other sources, including local government, about £250m had been raised in total - far less than Defra’s budget allowed for.But the committee said that only £61m had been raised from private sector sources to meet these targets. Along with other sources, including local government, about £250m had been raised in total - far less than Defra’s budget allowed for.
Commitments from the private sector, including insurers, to make up the shortfall in public sector budgets for flood defences had not been received, the committee said, leading to a worrying gap.Commitments from the private sector, including insurers, to make up the shortfall in public sector budgets for flood defences had not been received, the committee said, leading to a worrying gap.
The MPs concluded: “We are concerned that Defra’s requirement to find reductions of 15% in resource budgets over the next four years may affect vital flood protection work. We recommend that Defra set out within the next three months the implications of the spending review settlement on resource budgets for maintaining flood capital assets and for undertaking routine maintenance work such as the dredging of rivers.”The MPs concluded: “We are concerned that Defra’s requirement to find reductions of 15% in resource budgets over the next four years may affect vital flood protection work. We recommend that Defra set out within the next three months the implications of the spending review settlement on resource budgets for maintaining flood capital assets and for undertaking routine maintenance work such as the dredging of rivers.”
The MPs also called for Defra to publish full results of its badger culling programme, in order to establish whether it was effective in controlling the spread of bovine tuberculosis, a major problem on dairy farms.The MPs also called for Defra to publish full results of its badger culling programme, in order to establish whether it was effective in controlling the spread of bovine tuberculosis, a major problem on dairy farms.
The committee’s report found that bovine TB required “a holistic approach”, including maintaining information on culling and other treatment methods, such as the vaccination strategy in effect in Northern Ireland. The MPs called for a “strong evidence base” for culling, and that Defra should take into account evidence from the devolved administrations in their management of bovine TB.The committee’s report found that bovine TB required “a holistic approach”, including maintaining information on culling and other treatment methods, such as the vaccination strategy in effect in Northern Ireland. The MPs called for a “strong evidence base” for culling, and that Defra should take into account evidence from the devolved administrations in their management of bovine TB.