House of Commons - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minutes of Evidence

Supplementary memorandum submitted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

ANALYSIS OF 2005-06 ALLOCATIONS BY STRATEGIC THEME AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

In 2003 we published "Our Strategy" setting out how we are aiming to deliver our commitments, agreed under the 2002 Spending Review, for the environment, the farming and food industry and rural communities during 2003-06. In November 2003 Defra's Ministers agreed five strategic priorities for the Department under Defra's overall aim of promoting sustainable development.

— climate change and energy;

— sustainable consumption and production;

— natural resource protection;

— sustainable rural communities; and

— sustainable food and farming including animal health and welfare.

In addition, the Department recognises that a significant part of its work is concerned with preparedness for emergencies and contingencies.

These priorities set out the Defra story in line with the 2002 Spending Review objectives, whilst taking on board Defra and wider Government and international milestones since 2002 Spending Review, such as WSSD, publication of the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, the Energy White Paper, CAP reform, and the Haskins report on Modernising Rural Delivery. These strategic priorities will be the focus of our work for the next five years—for the 2004 Spending Review and beyond.

At the informal meeting on 7 June you asked us to provide details of the major programmes, and the costs allocated to each, which underpin the work of each of our Directorates. Rather than provide you with a breakdown under the current functional split we have provided you with resource details of major programmes which underpin our strategic priorities and emergency preparedness.

The pie chart below shows the percentage split between each of the different elements using 2005-06 (which will be the first year of the 2004 Spending Review).

The following sections highlight some of the major programmes which sit under these areas.[1]

1. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY

— Examples of funding to support climate change mitigation.

— UK Emissions Trading Scheme incentive payments up to £43 million—though a maximum saving of up to £11 million may be made if all companies that are eligible to take part in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme choose to do so.

— Carbon Trust Grant Payments £36 million.

— Energy Saving Trust Grant Payment £22 million.

— Funding to support the reduction of fuel poverty £172 million.

— Air Quality Public Service Agreement target £14 million.

2. SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

— Examples of funding to support improved waste management and recycling.

— Waste Implementation Programme/WRAP £92 million.

— Challenge Fund £45 million.

— Performance Reward Grant £45 million.

— WRAP recyclate market development work £10 million.

— Environwise £3 million.

3. NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Major programmes

— Biodiversity and Access including National Parks and Broads Authority £29 million and Kew £30 million.

— Environmental Protection (not to be confused with the Environmental Protection Directorate) £170 million which includes funding for the Environment Agency of over £100 million.

— English Nature £71 million.

— Water (excluding flood management).

— British Waterways Board £62 million.

— Marine Environment Issues and Water Supply Regulation Grants £15 million.

— Water Publicity and Research £3 million.

— Drinking Water Inspectorate £2 million.

4. SUSTAINABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES

Major Programmes

— Countryside Agency £100 million.

— Regional Development Agencies £50 million.

5. SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND FOOD

Major Programmes

— England Rural Development Programme £290 million (including the Entry level scheme).

— Over Thirty Month scheme £91 million (costs for current and future years will depend on the Government's response to the Food Standards Agency review of the Over Thirty Months rule).

— Rural Payments Agency Running Costs and Cap Reform approximately £188 million.

— Fisheries.

— Fishing Industry and Market Support £8 million.

— Conservation of Sea Fish Stocks £9 million.

— Fishing Management and Enforcement £15 million.

— Fishing Fleet Structure and Effort £1 million.

— Salmon, Whaling and Inland Fisheries £8 million.

— Fish Farming and Shellfish Production £3 million.

— Funding for Sustainable Farming and Food.

— Additional money to be made available via grant schemes £11 million.

— Investment into research and new technology £2 million.

— Development and implementation of new agri-environment and rural development schemes, including IT development costs £151 million.