Further written evidence submitted by
Richard Lochhead MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and
the Environment, the Scottish Government
Thank you for your letter of 23 November asking about
the UK Government's announcement that it would cease funding of
the Sustainable Development Commission.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs Caroline Spelman and I spoke about her plans
to review the future of the SDC as part of a wider meeting on
23 June. She wrote on 14 July to advise of her plans to announce
the withdrawal of funding from the SDC and seeking agreement to
wind up the organisation.
I replied on 20 July to reserve the Scottish Government's
position on the wind-up proposals, to provide time to consider
the options and implications for Scotland.
We would rather that the United Kingdom Government
had not decided to withdraw funding given the impact on the viability
of the SDC in Scotland. The Scottish Government has now announced
that the SDC in Scotland will not continue as a separate entity
although we will maintain certain of the activities it currently
delivers. The Scottish Government will continue to draw on sustainability
advice, scrutiny and challenge from a number of different bodies,
as summarised in the Scottish Parliamentary question and answer
attached for your records.[33]
I hope this is helpful.
15 December 2010
33 Not printed statement available at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-10/wa1125.htm
Back
| 
