User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

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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]]. Formal agreements<ref>'''Note:''' Referred to as "Concordats".</ref> also establish the  frameworks for co-operation between Defra and the [[Scottish Government]],<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/with/devolve/scotland.htm Main Concordat between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Executive]</ref> the Cabinet of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/with/devolve/wales.htm Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales]</ref> and with representatives from the [Northern Ireland Assembly]],<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/with/devolve/fisheries.htm Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries]</ref> which have delegated responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.


Defra is also responsible for representing the UK at the [[European Union]] 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 in 2008 to take over this responsibility.
The headquarters of Defra are located on [[London]].
==History==
Defra was formed in June 2001 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 the 2001 outbreak of [[Foot and Mouth disease]].
The Department had about 10. 479 personnel  as of January 2010.<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/reports/documents/2009-deptreport.pdf Defra Departmental Report 2009] (see Table 6 on page 228)</ref>
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]].<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 |date=3 October 2008|work=BBC News}}</ref>
==Responsibilities==
Defra is responsible for the UK Government's  policy in the following areas:<ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/416777/lmr100701.pdf List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010] (see pages 28-39)</ref>
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* [[Agriculture]]
* [[Air quality]]
* [[Animal health]] and welfare
* [[Biodiversity]]
* [[Conservation]]
* [[Chemical]]s and [[pesticide]]s
* [[Fisheries]]
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* [[Flooding]]
* [[Food]]
* [[Forestry]]
* [[Hunting]]
* [[Inland waterways]]
* [[Land management]]
* [[Marine]] policy
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* [[National parks]]
* [[Noise]]
* [[Plant health]]
* [[Rural development]]
* [[Sustainable development]]
* [[Waste management]]
* [[Water management]]
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==Executive agencies==
The executive agencies within Defra are:<ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/416777/lmr100701.pdf List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010] (see page 30)</ref>
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* [[Animal Health]]
* [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
* [[Food and Environment Research Agency]]
* [[Forest Enterprise]]
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* [[Forest Research]]
* [[Rural Payments Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Laboratories Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]
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==Key delivery partners==
The key delivery partners are:
* [[British Waterways]]
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Forestry Commission]]
* [[Natural England]]
* [[Marine Management Organisation]]
A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/with/delivery/landscape/documents/defra-network-landscape.pdf  The Defra Network] </ref>
==Defra in the English regions==
Policies for environment, food and rural affairs are delivered in the English regions<ref>'''Note:'''  There are nine [[Regions of England|English Regions]], which are the highest level of sub-national governmental entities in England. The nine regions are: Greater London, North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East, South East and South West.</ref> by Defra's executive agencies and delivery bodies, in particular [[Natural England]], the [[Rural Payments Agency]], [[Animal Health]] and the [[Marine Management Organisation]].
Defra provides grant aid to the following flood and coastal erosion risk management operating authorities:
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Internal Drainage Boards]]
* [[Local government in England|Local authorities]]
==Aim and strategic priorities==
Defra's primary 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."
Under this primary aim, Defra has five strategic priorities:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/reports/documents/5year-strategy.pdf Delivering the Essentials of Life: Defra’s Five Year Strategy, Annex B] Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, December 2004</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.
==References==
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 16:59, 10 December 2010

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