17 Jul 2016

This is the easy bit, huge challenges ahead with implications for many sectors (continue) Andrea Leadsom has been made the SoS for the Environment. Farm payments a major priority   In line with other May appointments as a leading Brexiter, Leadsom now has responsibility for devising a payment mechanism for farmers to replace EU subsidies! In […]

05 May 2016

The EFRA committee report on air quality will be like water off a ducks back to Oliver Letwin. But some of this mud is going to stick to him and the Government. Air quality failings are a significant factor in the London Mayoral elections, the London airport runway decision and Government were warned by the […]

18 Apr 2016

The Environmental Audit Committee hears from carries on with its review by interviewing Rory Stewart from Defra and Oliver Letwin (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) from the Cabinet office. Not a very comfortable afternoon for Rory Stewart who has to defend sitting on the Worsfold report and its recommendations. Watch the video  Tip you […]

30 Mar 2016

Despite a raft of warnings from many bodies Defra continues to do very little to resolve the fundamentals issues surrounding air quality. ClientEarth who have a track record in bringing cases that force change in Government policy have issued a formal warning. The EFRA committee have already signalled their concern with an inquiry. ClientEarth has […]

22 Mar 2016

Edie Newsroom: The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) looks set to enter a “five-year period of scrutiny” after MPs this week raised concerns over the Department’s ability to deliver on key flood protection, air pollution and animal welfare strategies with a special report.   Defra – which operates on a £2bn budget […]

22 Mar 2016

Despite a raft of warnings from many bodies Defra continues to do very little to resolve the fundamentals issues surrounding air quality. ClientEarth who have a track record in bringing cases that force change in Government policy have issued a formal warning. The EFRA committee have already signalled their concern with an inquiry. ClientEarth has […]

17 Mar 2016

Three perspectives, Defra, The Guardian and the Insurance industry who are not happy! Belated recognition that earlier cuts were not the right direction. 1.  Defra Announcement  Defra ‘An extra £700m in flood defence funding will help deliver the government’s commitment to ensure communities are protected against increasingly extreme weather. ‘This comes on top of the […]