There are a bewildering array of other elements behind the headline % cuts which are lower than predicted. Smoke and mirrors, billions down the back of the sofa, an OBR windfall (£27bn) is how the ‘new’ money has been described. The Defra statement is set out below. Three elements begin to emerge: The flood infrastructure […]
Defra spending Economists at RSPB & The Wildlife Trusts say Defra is being hit with the biggest cuts http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/409659-rspb-and-the-wildlife-trusts-criticise-decision-to-cut-funding-for-environment-by-up-to-40?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=News ADAS – research collaborations being cut https://www.fginsight.com/news/defra-starts-pulling-the-plug-on-research-projects-as-spending-cuts-bite-7783 The Environmental Audit Committee has commissioned the National Audit Office to audit the Treasury’s Spending Review process for its environmental impact. Statement from the Chair Environmental Audit Committee Chair, […]
This article picked up from the EFRA committee session with Claire Moriarty (see below) makes clear that whilst flooding is an important priority it is not ring fenced. http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Flood-defence-money-safe-cut-backs/story-27992892-detail/story.html The EFRA Committee recently interviewed Claire Moriarty Permanent Secretary to Defra and she reflects on many issues including the spending review. http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2015/evidence-defra-performance-perm-sec/
This is response begins to clarify how Ministers are thinking about the Spending Review. Farming Guardian ‘Farming Minister George Eustice has insisted there is no truth in the rumour Defra could be disbanded this autumn, but has shed new light on how it will respond to budget cuts, including recovering more of its costs. To […]
Elizabeth Truss speech to Wildlife & Countryside Link (Sept 15th) https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/elizabeth-truss-speech-to-the-wildlife-and-countryside-link This speech at the meeting which saw the launch of the Blueprint for Water’s vision The speech is a very strange mix of the well-trodden Government path of supporting all things farming and economic with very little mention of nature conservation. It highlighted a […]
UK Unprepared For Environmental Disaster Following Budget Cuts Guardian ‘The country could be unprepared to deal with major environmental disasters because government jobs cuts have got rid of vital scientists and specialist staff, according to a senior public sector union official. Leslie Manasseh, the president of the TUC and deputy general secretary of the Prospect union, […]