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[[Image:DefraLogo.gif|right|140px]]
[[Image:DefraLogo.gif|right|140px]]
The '''Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs''' ('''Defra''') is the [[United Kingdom government department|government department]] responsible for [[environmental quality|environmental]] protection, food production and standards, [[agriculture]], [[fisheries]] and rural communities in the [[United Kingdom]]. [[Concordat]]s set out agreed frameworks for co-operation between it and the [[Scottish Government]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/concord.htm|title=Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive}}</ref> the Cabinet of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/walesconc.htm|title=Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales}}</ref> and with representatives from the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/fishconc.htm|title=Devolution: Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries}}</ref> which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations. Defra also leads for the UK at the EU on agricultural, fisheries and environment matters and in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change, although a new [[Department of Energy and Climate Change]] was created on [[3 October]] [[2008]] to take over the last responsibility.
==Creation==
It was formed in June 2001 under the leadership of [[Margaret Beckett]], when the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] (MAFF) was merged with part of the [[DETR|Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions]] (DETR) and with a small part of the [[Home Office]]. The department was created after the perceived failure of MAFF to deal adequately with [[2001 UK foot and mouth crisis|an outbreak]] of [[Foot and Mouth disease]]. The department had about 9 000 core personnel, {{As of|2008|alt=as of January 2008}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2007/chapter11.pdf|title=Defra departmental report}}</ref> The department's main building is Nobel House in [[Smith Square]], SW1.
In October 2008, the climate team at Defra was merged with the energy team from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to create the [[Department of Energy and Climate Change]], headed by [[Ed Miliband]].<ref name="Marrying energy demand and supply">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7651795.stm|title= Marrying energy demand and supply|last=Harrabin  |first=Roger |date=3 October 2008|work=BBC News|accessdate=2009-05-22}}</ref>
==Ministers==
The current make-up of the department's ministers is:<ref>[http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19564 Ministerial Team]</ref>
* [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] &mdash; [[Hilary Benn|The Rt Hon. Hilary Benn, MP]]
** [[Minister of State]] for Food, Farming and the Environment &mdash; [[Jim Fitzpatrick (politician)|Jim Fitzpatrick, MP]]
** [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] for the Natural and Marine Environment &mdash; [[Huw Irranca-Davies|Huw Irranca-Davies, MP]]
**Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs - [[Dan Norris|Dan Norris, MP]]
**Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State - [[Lord Davies of Oldham]]
==Permanent Secretary==
[[Helen Ghosh]] is the current [[Permanent Secretary]]. The Permanent Secretary is Head of the Department and also Principal Accounting Officer. She has personal responsibility for the overall organisation, management and staffing of the Department and for Department-wide procedures in financial and other matters.
==Executive agencies==
The [[Executive Agency|executive agencies]] are:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2006/chapter5.pdf "Defra's Executive Agencies"], Chapter 5, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)</ref>
* [[Animal Health]] (launched on 2 April 2007), formerly the [[State Veterinary Service]]<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/News/070401-launch.htm "Launch of Animal Health"], news release by Animal Health, 2 April 2007 (from the Defra website)</ref>
* [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
* [[Food and Environment Research Agency]] (until April 2009 was called the [[Central Science Laboratory]])
* [[UK Government Decontamination Service|Government Decontamination Service]]
* [[Marine and Fisheries Agency]]
* [[Rural Payments Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Laboratories Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]
==Key delivery partners==
The key delivery partners are:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2006/chapter6.pdf "Working with others: Defra's delivery partners"], Chapter 6, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)</ref>
* [[British Waterways]]
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Forestry Commission]]
* [[Natural England]] (launched on 11 October 2006), formerly [[English Nature]] and elements of the [[Countryside Agency]] and the [[Rural Development Service]].<ref>[http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/releases2006/111006.htm "New champion for the environment launches"], press release by Natural England, 11 October 2006 (from the Natural England website)</ref>
A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/delivery/landscape/map/index.htm|title=Delivery Landscape Map}}</ref>
==Aim and strategic priorities==
Defra's overarching aim is sustainable development, which is defined as "development which enables all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations." The Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that he saw Defra’s mission as enabling a move toward what the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] (WWF) has called "one planet living".<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/pdf/milibandtopm-letter060711.pdf "My priorities for Defra"], David Miliband's letter to the Prime Minister, 11 July 2006</ref>
Under this overarching aim, Defra has five strategic priorities:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/5year-strategy/5year-strategy.pdf "Delivering the Essentials of Life: Defra’s Five Year Strategy"], Annex B</ref>
* Climate change and energy.
* Sustainable consumption and production, including responsibility for the [[National Waste Strategy]].
* Protecting the countryside and natural resource protection.
* Sustainable rural communities.
* A sustainable farming and food sector including animal health and welfare.
==See also==
* [[Department of Agriculture and Rural Development]] ([[Northern Ireland]])
* [[UK Dispersion Modelling Bureau]]
* [[Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.defra.gov.uk Defra's official website]
* [http://www.Fera.defra.gov.uk Fera - Executive agency of DEFRA]

Revision as of 22:43, 8 August 2009

DefraLogo.gif

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom. Concordats set out agreed frameworks for co-operation between it and the Scottish Government,[1] the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales[2] and with representatives from the Northern Ireland Assembly,[3] which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations. Defra also leads for the UK at the EU on agricultural, fisheries and environment matters and in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change, although a new Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008 to take over the last responsibility.

Creation

It was formed in June 2001 under the leadership of Margaret Beckett, when the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) was merged with part of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and with a small part of the Home Office. The department was created after the perceived failure of MAFF to deal adequately with an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease. The department had about 9 000 core personnel, Template:As of.[4] The department's main building is Nobel House in Smith Square, SW1.

In October 2008, the climate team at Defra was merged with the energy team from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to create the Department of Energy and Climate Change, headed by Ed Miliband.[5]

Ministers

The current make-up of the department's ministers is:[6]

Permanent Secretary

Helen Ghosh is the current Permanent Secretary. The Permanent Secretary is Head of the Department and also Principal Accounting Officer. She has personal responsibility for the overall organisation, management and staffing of the Department and for Department-wide procedures in financial and other matters.

Executive agencies

The executive agencies are:[7]

Key delivery partners

The key delivery partners are:[9]

A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.[11]

Aim and strategic priorities

Defra's overarching aim is sustainable development, which is defined as "development which enables all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations." The Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that he saw Defra’s mission as enabling a move toward what the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called "one planet living".[12]

Under this overarching aim, Defra has five strategic priorities:[13]

  • Climate change and energy.
  • Sustainable consumption and production, including responsibility for the National Waste Strategy.
  • Protecting the countryside and natural resource protection.
  • Sustainable rural communities.
  • A sustainable farming and food sector including animal health and welfare.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive.
  2. ↑ Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales.
  3. ↑ Devolution: Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries.
  4. ↑ Defra departmental report.
  5. ↑ Harrabin, Roger. Marrying energy demand and supply, BBC News, 3 October 2008. Retrieved on 2009-05-22.
  6. ↑ Ministerial Team
  7. ↑ "Defra's Executive Agencies", Chapter 5, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)
  8. ↑ "Launch of Animal Health", news release by Animal Health, 2 April 2007 (from the Defra website)
  9. ↑ "Working with others: Defra's delivery partners", Chapter 6, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)
  10. ↑ "New champion for the environment launches", press release by Natural England, 11 October 2006 (from the Natural England website)
  11. ↑ Delivery Landscape Map.
  12. ↑ "My priorities for Defra", David Miliband's letter to the Prime Minister, 11 July 2006
  13. ↑ "Delivering the Essentials of Life: Defra’s Five Year Strategy", Annex B

External links

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