Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Response to the review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Information Bulletin
The Government will continue to support the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP), the Government confirmed today.
An independent review of the Commission, conducted by independent consultants and published last July, concluded that there is a continuing need for the functions provided by the Commission.
The Government today published its response to the review, concluding that the Commission added significant, valuable policy advice to the government and, with some modernisation, should continue to be supported.
Defra and RCEP have identified potential savings of up to £89,000 per year in the Commission's budget, which will be used to deliver the recommended modernisation programme.
The value of RCEP to Government is based on its combination of independence and scientific authority. The Government values its reports which are highly influential and deliver significant policy benefits.
Defra will provide a stable budget for the RCEP for the current Spending Review period to ensure the organisation's stability. The budget for 2008-09 will be approximately £1 million.
The review was in line with Cabinet Office guidance that public bodies are subjected to periodic study to ensure that they are still delivering high quality services and are adequately resourced.
Notes for Editors
1. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) is an independent UK-wide advisory body established in 1970 to advise the Queen, the government, parliament and the public on environmental issues. Although funded by Defra, it is independent of government departments. It has been chaired by Sir John Lawton since 2005.
2. Copies of the review report and the Government Response can be downloaded from the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/rcep/review.htm
3. The RCEP will this year publish a report on the 'Environmental Effects of Novel Materials and Nanotechnology' and also a short report on 'The Environmental Effects of Artificial Light'. The RCEP's current study is 'Adapting the UK to Climate Change' which will report in 2009.
4. Defra and RCEP have worked together to identify potential savings up to £89,000 pa within its budget, which will be used to deliver the recommended modernisation of the Commission. Defra will also announce that it will provide a stable budget to the RCEP for the Spending Review period to ensure the organisation's stability. The RCEP budget for 2008-2009 will be approximately £1 million.
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