House of Commons - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Fourth Report

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House of Commons

Session 2002-03
Publications on the internet
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Publications

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Fourth Report

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 12 March 2003.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

REPORT
Summary
Introduction
Background to the Directive
What the Directive seeks to achieve
Mechanisms of the Directive
The ecological status of waters
River basin districts
Timetable for implementing the Directive
Implementing the Directive
The Common Implementation Strategy
Failing to implement the Directive: infraction proceedings against the United Kingdom?
Public participation
Science and the Directive
The present state of waters in England and Wales
Diffuse pollution
Diffuse pollution and agriculture
Defining the ecological status of waters in England and Wales
Lakes
Coastal waters
Conclusions about the science
Administration and the Directive
The role of Defra and the Environment Agency
Defra and the Environment Agency
Clarifying what the Directive requires
Resources
Conflicts of interest
Lack of democratic mandate
Integration and powers
A pilot river basin management plan
Consultation with stakeholders
Conclusions about administration
Integration: a new way of thinking?
Costs, 'gold-plating' and the Directive
The diversity of cost estimates
A cost-benefit approach
Gold-plating and strategic thinking
Synchronising current economic planning cycles with the Directive
Conclusions about costs and 'gold-plating'
Conclusions and recommendations

Annex I: Description of the Articles of the Water Framework Directive
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE REPORT

LIST OF WITNESSES

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

Wednesday 23 October 2002
Wednesday 30 October 2002
Wednesday 6 November 2002
Wednesday 27 November 2002
Wednesday 4 December 2002
Wednesday 11 December 2002

LIST OF MEMORANDA INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

LIST OF APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

APPENDICES

UNPRINTED MEMORANDA

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORTS IN THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT

© Parliamentary copyright 2003
Prepared 19 March 2003