MPs have called for greater clarity over which policies and programmes will be affected by massive 300 million budget cuts faced by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) over the next two years.
Members of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee today (January 7) demanded that ministers must clarify how the cuts would impact on the large number of agencies Defra works with including the Environment Agency, which is cutting 1,700 jobs (see letsrecycle.com story).
Concerns were raised about the Departments ability to respond to emergencies in future. Low staff morale within the Department was also highlighted as a problem.
And, the Committee also recommended that the plastic carrier bag levy set to be introduced in England in 2015 should come into force much sooner.
The calls come in a report published today by the Committee, following an inquiry and two evidence sessions one with Defra officials and the other with secretary of state Owen Paterson.
The Committee also noted resource minister’s Dan Rogersons announcement in November 2013 that the Department would be cutting back on waste activities in 2014/15 (see letsrecycle.com story). Mr Rogerson was previously a member of the committee during the inquiry before taking up his new post in October 2013.
Defra spent just under 2.5 billion in 2012-13. However, its budget has been cut by 500 million since the 2010 Spending Review and it will face another reduction of 300 million in the years up to 2015-16.
According to the Committee, Defra is one of the smallest government departments but faces among the most substantial budget cuts.
‘Ministers must clarify how further budgets cuts of over 300 million over the coming two years will impact on the funding provided to these agencies and the ability of the Department to respond to emergencies.’
Anne McIntosh, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Launching the report, chair of the Committee, Anne McIntosh said: Defra is a small ministry facing massive budget cuts and which relies on a large number of arms length bodies to deliver many significant areas of policy. Ministers must clarify how further budgets cuts of over 300 million over the coming two years will impact on the funding provided to these agencies and the ability of the Department to respond to emergencies.
Carrier bag levy
The report highlights a number of challenges faced by Defra over the next two years, including the introduction of a charge on single-use carrier bags in England in 2015.
The Committee said it was pleased that the Department has finally agreed to impose a charge and also called on industry to work on developing a genuine biodegradable plastic bag to replace existing single-use bags, which would be exempt from any levy.
However, it added that it was disappointed that the charge will not come into effect sooner than 2015 and called for its implementation on a faster timetable, citing the success of charges introduced in Northern Ireland on reducing use of carrier bags.
Staff morale
According to the Committees report, a recent Defra staff survey revealed an increased lack of confidence and leadership of the department, which scored below the civil service average in these areas.
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The report also states that the Committee is surprised by the discrepancy between the amount of bonus paid to senior staff and that paid to more junior staff.
As a result, the Committee called for a plan to address low staff morale, including a review of the governments practices on bonuses.
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