£400 million for
low-carbon Britain - Defra announces 2008/09 budget settlement
DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref
:51/08) issued by The Government News Network on 21 February 2008
Setting out
details of Defra's 2008/09 budget settlement, Hilary Benn has
announced an increase in funding for clean energy technologies,
investments and enterprises to over £400 million over the next
three years.
As part of the domestic Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF),
the Carbon Trust will receive £47.4 million to bring forward new
energy technologies such as offshore wind, third-generation
photovoltaic power, marine energy and biomass heating. This
funding will also be used to increase the Carbon Trust's
energy-saving loans scheme for small and medium sized enterprises
by a further £12 million to £62 million since 2003.
In addition, over the next three years the government will also
provide around £10 million for a new anaerobic digestion
demonstration programme. Up to four commercial-scale facilities
will show the potential of this technology to create renewable
energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid waste being sent
to landfill.
The 1.4% real increase in Defra's overall budget on 2007/08
shows the government's commitment to the environment with
significant new investment in the following areas:
* low-carbon technology - domestic ETF fund increased to £400
million plus £800 million to tackle environmental challenges in
developing countries over the next three years;
* sustainable waste infrastructure - over £2 billion Private
Finance Initiative credits provided over the next three years;
* flood protection - spending £2.15 billion over the next three
years; and
* Rural Development Programme for England - resources doubled to
£3.9bn available to 2013.
Announcing the budget settlement, Hilary Benn said:
"Now is the time to act together to tackle climate change
and protect our environment. The Government must lead the way by
ensuring we are investing in building a low carbon Britain.
"Defra spending will increase to almost £4 billion over the
next three years but we must invest wisely. That is why we are
focusing our efforts on helping to provide sustainable options for
the future as well as supporting and influencing governments,
businesses and consumers locally and globally."
As part of the 2008/09 budget settlement:
* Natural England will receive £176 million to enhance
biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and
marine areas;
* The Environment Agency will receive £796 million to protect and
improve the environment in England and Wales;
* Animal Health will receive £128.1 million to combat disease and
ensure animals are healthy; and
* The Rural Payments Agency will receive £255.8 million to
effectively administer the Single Payment Scheme payments.
The settlement takes into account all of Defra's essential
spending while providing enough flexibility to ensure the
department can protect against risks such as flood management and
animal disease.
Notes to Editors
1. The establishment of the domestic Environmental Transformation
Fund, jointly funded by Defra and the Department for Business,
Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, was announced on 9 October
2007 by Hilary Benn and John Hutton alongside increases to £2
billion of credits for local authorities to attract private
investment in sustainable waste and recycling facilities. Funding
through the waste Private Finance Initiative will rise from £280
million in 2007-08 to £700 million in 2010-11.
2. Hilary Benn today increased the domestic element of the
Environmental Transformation Fund from £370 million to £400
million over 2008/09-2010/11.
3. The allocation of the remainder of the domestic Environmental
Transformation Fund in 2008/09 will be determined by the
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and
Defra in due course.
4. Gordon Brown as Chancellor announced in the Budget 2007, an
international Environmental Transformation Fund of £800 million to
help tackle climate change and environmental challenges in
developing countries and to reduce poverty through environmental
protection from 2008/09-2010/11.
5. More information on the Environmental Transformation Fund is
available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/energy/fund/
6. Defra is focusing on changing behaviour in the UK through
awareness-raising campaigns such as Act on CO2. See http://www.direct.gov.uk/actonCO2
for further information.
7. Defra also announced increases of £200 million to over £2
billion to manage the impact of climate change on flooding and
coastal erosion as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review for
2008/09 - 2010/11 on 9 October 2007. Investment across government
will increase from £600 million in 2007-08 to £800 million in 2010-11.
8. On 8 December 2007, Hilary Benn confirmed a doubling of the
Rural Development Programme for England to £3.9 billion between
2007-2013, supporting environment-friendly farming and
improvements to the land to improve wildlife, water quality and
contribute to tackling climate change.
9.The RPA allocation includes costs associated with the Older
Cattle Disposal Scheme.
10. Details of funding for Defra delivery bodies for 2008/2009 is
available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/busplan/spending-review/budget0809.htm
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
End
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