11-May-2006 - "We
welcome today’s Select Committee support for the
important work of the Environment Agency. During
our 10th anniversary year we can see the Environment
Agency has played a major part in overseeing a
remarkable change in the quality of our environment",
said Sir John Harman, Chair of the Environment
Agency.
The House of Commons: Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee,
who has undertaken an inquiry into the work of
the Environment Agency, today published their
report and recommendations.
Sir John Harman said the Environment
Agency will study the report carefully before
making a full response, however welcomes the Committee’s
key recommendations that:
Government give the Environment
Agency statutory consultee status on planning
applications for development in the flood plain
and increase flood defence funding
Much higher fines are imposed
for those committing environmental crimes, and
Defra provide clear guidance
to Natural England on using the agri-environmental
funding to achieve both Natural England and the
Environment Agency’s objectives
"Since 2000, 100,000 homes
have had flood risk reduced by the Environment
Agency through new or improved flood defences
and we estimate over 5 million people are still
currently at risk of flooding. This work will
only become more important as the effects of climate
change take hold," Sir John Harman said.
"I particularly welcome
the Committee’s recommendation that the Government
increases the Agency’s funding in this important
area, and hope Ministers take this into consideration
in the forthcoming Spending Review.
"We also welcome the recommendation
that more be done to deter environmental offenders.
Those who treat the environment with contempt,
such as fly-tippers and rogue businesses, now
face the likelihood of an appearance in court
thanks to the Environment Agency’s hard working
enforcement and legal teams, however fines need
to reflect the seriousness of these crimes.
"We are pleased the Committee
has noted that the work of the Environment Agency
has increased considerably over the past ten years,
and correctly pointed out that this increased
work must reflect the challenges of climate change.
Our new Corporate Strategy ‘Creating a Better
Place’ - which is currently with Ministers for
approval - maps out how we will meet the new environmental
challenges which lie ahead.
"The Environment Agency
has made a lot of progress in working better,
faster and cheaper since the last Committee report
into our work five years ago - and we will continue
to do so.
"We look forward to working
with our new Ministers in addressing these challenges.
Our environment is affected by changes to the
whole world, as well as national policies and
local decisions. We will play our part in responding
to all of these and to improve and protect our
environment," Sir John Harman said.
ENDS
Ten years on: ten of the Environment
Agency’s successes in its first decade
1. Wildlife is benefiting: Otters
have spread to 36 percent of rivers in England,
up from 23 percent a decade ago, and up from 53
percent to 71 percent of rivers in Wales.
2. Rivers continue to improve:
In 2004, 71 percent of rivers in England and Wales
were of ‘good’ or ‘very good’ biological quality,
compared with 68 percent in 1995. 65 percent of
rivers were of good chemical quality compared
with 59% in 1994.
3. Coastal water quality is
the best on record: Eighty-five percent of England
and Wales’ bathing waters now meet the toughest
EU standards compared with 50 percent in 1995.
Mercury discharges to sea are 33 percent less
and cadmium almost 80 percent less than in 2000.
This has reduced chemical contamination of our
wildlife including fish.
4. The industry we regulate
is cleaning up its act: Since 1998, sulphur dioxide
emissions have fallen by over 50 percent and particles
have gone down by over 55 percent. Over half (53%)
of all waste produced in 2004 was recovered, compared
to less than a third (30%) in 1998.
5. We are managing risk: Since
2000, we have built or improved defences and reduced
flood risk for 100,000 homes. Our flood risk management
strategy prevents more than £3 billion of
flood damage each year.
6. We are climate change champions:
Methane emissions from UK landfills fell by over
55 percent between 1995 and 2003 reflecting better
waste management and the capture of methane for
energy production.
7. We have greener business:
Pollution incidents caused by businesses were
the lowest on record. Between 2000 and 2004, serious
incidents declined by more than a quarter. Hazardous
waste production at the sites we regulate is at
its lowest on record, declining by almost a fifth
between 2000 and 2004.
8. More people are enjoying
their environment: rod licenses have increased
by over 250,000 between 1995 and 2005 - an increase
of 26% and there has been a 66% increase over
the past 5 years in the number of narrowboats
cruising the rivers cared for by us.
9. People are listening to what
we say: over the last decade we have worked with
farmers to help them reduce damage to the environment.
As a result, pesticide levels in rivers dropped
by 23 percent in 2003, compared to the mean for
1998-2002. Serious pollution incidents by farming
fell from 256 in 2000 to 145 in 2004: a 43 percent
decrease.
10. Major cuts in pollution:
serious water pollution incidents went down by
70 percent between 1995 and 2004.
