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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will respond to the reports by the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development on (a) Getting the Best out of Indicators and (b) Economic Regulators. [57286] Mr. Meacher: The Government have today published responses to these two reports by the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development. "Getting the Best out of Indicators" has made a valuable contribution to the Government's development of a new set of Indicators as the report focused on strategic issues relating to their use and development and gave particular regard to policy and communication. The new Government indicators will, for the first time, include economic and social aspects of sustainable development together with a small group of headline Indicators. The full set of Indicators will be launched early in the new year together with the revised UK Sustainable Development Strategy. The report on Economic Regulators was considered very carefully in light of the consultation for "A Fair Deal for Consumers" published by DTI in March. We are pleased to have been able to respond positively to many of the Round Table's recommendations, for instance setting up a framework for regulation and issuing statutory guidance on the social and environment objectives. The Government value the work of the Round Table in helping to take forward the Sustainable Development agenda and I wish to express my gratitude to Sir Richard Southwood and the Round Table for their continued work. I am placing copies of both the responses in the Library.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

318 c109-10W; 57286

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Standards Regulation Sustainable development Sustainable Development Round Table