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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the forthcoming reviews of Environmental Campaign Ltd and the Environmental Action Fund. [135686] Mr. Meacher: As part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly financial, management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies and bodies similar to them, my Department has initiated a thorough review of Encams, the umbrella body through which we fund the Tidy Britain Group and Going for Green. The review will consider the case for continuing DETR funding of Encams' work programme in England, and whether Encams is the most appropriate body to carry out the functions funded by DETR. If appropriate it will then consider what changes may be necessary to the current strategic and financial relationship between the Department and Encams, to improve the value for money of any future funding. The review will be carried out by my Department's In House Policy Consultancy, which will consult widely with those organisations having an interest in Encams' activities. We have also set in hand a review of the Environmental Action Fund (EAF) which will consider the effectiveness with which the £4 million per year of the EAF is spent on promoting sustainable living in England, examine the aims, terms, conditions and administration of these financial resources and, if appropriate, make recommendations for change to make sure that these resources are targeted most effectively. The review will be carried out by Quadrangle Consulting, who will consult widely with organisations having an interest in the work of the Fund. I aim to ensure that any uncertainty caused by these reviews is kept to a minimum and I have asked both the In House Policy Consultancy and the EAF review team to report early in 2001.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

355 c176W; 135686

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Finance Voluntary organisations Sustainable development ENCAMS

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk