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.  
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.  


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==Executive agencies==
==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>
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]]  
* [[Animal Health]]  
* [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
* [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
* [[Food and Environment Research Agency]]
* [[Forest Enterprise]]
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* [[Forest Research]]
* [[Forest Research]]
* [[Forest Enterprise]]
* [[Food and Environment Research Agency]]
* [[Rural Payments Agency]]
* [[Rural Payments Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Laboratories Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Laboratories Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]
* [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]
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==Key delivery partners==
==Key delivery partners==

Revision as of 23:35, 9 December 2010

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[1] also establish the frameworks for co-operation between Defra and the Scottish Government,[2] the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales[3] and with representatives from the [Northern Ireland Assembly]],[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

Responsibilities

Defra is responsible for the UK Government's policy in the following areas:[7]

Executive agencies

The executive agencies within Defra are:[8]

Key delivery partners

The key delivery partners are:

A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.[9]

Defra in the English regions

Policies for environment, food and rural affairs are delivered in the English regions[10] 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:

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:[11]

  • 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

  1. ↑ Note: Referred to as "Concordats".
  2. ↑ Main Concordat between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Executive
  3. ↑ Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales
  4. ↑ Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries
  5. ↑ Defra Departmental Report 2009 (see Table 6 on page 228)
  6. ↑ Marrying energy demand and supply, BBC News, 3 October 2008.
  7. ↑ List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010 (see pages 28-39)
  8. ↑ List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010 (see page 30)
  9. ↑ The Defra Network
  10. ↑ Note: There are nine 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.
  11. ↑ 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
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