Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Printable version E-mail this to a friend

Defra announces changes to arm’s length bodies

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today announced reforms to over thirty of Defra’s arm’s length bodies.

Defra has around 90 arm’s length bodies, many of which were set up in at a time when our understanding of and engagement with environmental issues was less mainstream.  Most of the things that these bodies do is now part of what the Government does as a matter of course, others are now no longer necessary.

Caroline Spelman said:

“This Government is committed to being the greenest Government ever and the Structural Reform Plan published last week sets out how Defra will play its part in achieving this.  Reducing the deficit is priority for the Government and all departments are playing their part in making efficiency savings.

“Together with Chris Huhne I am determined to play the lead role in driving the sustainability agenda across the whole of government and I am not willing to delegate this responsibility to an external body. 

“The effective delivery of public services is essential and I am committed to increasing the transparency and accountability of Defra’s public bodies and to reducing their numbers and costs.  Times have changed since many of these bodies were set up and much of what they do is now everyday Government business.”

The Secretary of State announced that she will be:

·         Withdrawing Defra funding from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC);

·         Abolishing the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution;

·         Abolishing the Agricultural Wages Board, the fifteen Agricultural Wages Committees, the sixteen Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees and the Committee on Agricultural Valuation;

·         Abolishing the Inland Waterways Advisory Council; and

·         Abolishing the Commons Commissioners.

Caroline Spelman continued:

“We will continue to liaise closely with the Sustainable Development Commission’s partners and will work with business, civil society, local communities, universities and internationally, to help deliver sustainable development together.

“The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee will provide powerful democratic scrutiny of Government’s work in this area.”

The arm’s length body review will make Defra a leaner, stronger department – with a renewed and clearer focus on its key priorities and a simplified structure for delivering those priorities; underpinned by a robust, credible and efficient science base.

The Secretary of State will continue to look closely at other Defra arm’s length bodies and will make any further announcements as appropriate.

Notes to Editors

1.    Defra’s Structural Reform Plan was published last week and sets out three departmental strategic priorities:

·         to support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production;

·         to help to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve quality of life; and

·         to support a strong and sustainable green economy, which is resilient to climate change.

2.    The SDC is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) established as a company limited by guarantee.  It was incorporated on 1 February 2009.  It is jointly owned by the Governments or Administrations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the Defra Secretary of State and the First Ministers (and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland) being the Members of the Company.  Focusing responsibility for sustainable development policy within Defra will improve accountability, avoid duplication and lead to essential efficiencies.

3.    When the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution was set up in 1970, there was very little awareness of “green issues” and few organisations represented the environment. The situation now is very different and Government has many sources of expert, independent advice and challenge on the state of the environment. Protecting the environment remains a key focus for the UK and Defra intends to draw on the full range of expertise available.

4.    The Agricultural Wages Board, the fifteen Agricultural Wages Committees and the sixteen Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees were established by the 1948 Agricultural Wages Act and are affiliated to Defra. The Committee on Agricultural Valuation was established by the Agricultural Holdings Act in 1986.  In light of decisions taken today to bring agricultural workers in England within scope of the National Minimum Wages Act we will agree with the Welsh Assembly Government the measures to bring about the abolition of the AWB.

5.    After the abolition of the Inland Waterways Advisory Council Defra will develop future policy in this area. We will strengthen our relations with stakeholders who have an interest in inland waterways.

6.    The Commons Commissioners is a statutory body comprising expert lawyers in commons law who were appointed to adjudicate disputed applications to register common land and greens under the Commons Registration Act 1965. This work began in the early 1970s and has now been concluded, so there is no need for this body to remain.

7.    A Written Ministerial Statement of 29 June 2010 announced the abolition of the Commission for Rural Communities and the merger of Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

8.    All necessary approvals to carry out the abolitions and dissolutions of Defra’s arm’s length bodies will be made via the Public Bodies Reform Bill.

 

Free, Secure, Compliant UK Public Sector IT Recycling Service