1 Introduction
Our
inquiry
1. The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee
is responsible for examining the policy, expenditure and administration
of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
As part of this scrutiny the Committee examines the Department's
Annual Report and Accounts (DAR). The DAR for 2012-13 was published
in July 2013 and covers actual expenditure (or outturn) 2012-13
and planned expenditure for 2013-14. We held two evidence sessions:
with the Permanent Secretary and other officials, and with the
Secretary of State, Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP. We were assisted
in our inquiry by the National Audit Office who produced an overview
of the Department's performance which highlighted specific points
arising in relation to Defra's budget and expenditure.[1]
We have taken the opportunity to comment on a few key areas of
policy not dealt with in our wider work this year.
1 NAO, The Performance of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
2012-13, October 2013. Back
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