The Treasury has rejected claims that it has ‘run roughshod’ over Defra’s environmental policy objectives, arguing ‘trade-offs’ in departmental spending have been necessary.
And, the Treasury insists it is helping the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs meet the government’s recycling targets while setting Landfill Tax rates for the next three years.
The Treasury has rejected claims it is not doing enough to support sustainable policies
Its comments come in a formal response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) year-long inquiry into the Treasury and its role in ensuring sustainability.
The cross-party group of MPs, which holds government to account on environmental issues, called on the Treasury to set out its future plans for Landfill Tax and accused it of not working with Defra to find ways of boosting recycling (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, in its response the Treasury argues its central role requires trade-offs in the allocation of spending between government departments – and had allocated “billions of pounds” to the government’s environmental and climate objectives in its 2015 Spending Review.
It adds that the government’s forthcoming 25-Year Environmental Plan would set out the government’s vision on sustainability further.
In response to Committee comments that Landfill Tax is no longer a driver for effective waste management, the Treasury notes: “Landfill tax has successfully reduced the amount of waste going to landfill and the Treasury has set out rates to 2019. The Treasury continues to work with Defra to consider further options to meet the government’s recycling targets.
“The government is investing £3 billion from 1997 to 2042 in grant funding to Private Finance Initiative local authority waste infrastructure projects.”
‘Unsatisfied’
The EAC has today hit back stating it is “unsatisfied” with the Treasury’s response to its inquiry, and has asked it to look again at the conclusions and recommendations set out in its report.
“In the Treasury’s response it is not clear whether it has considered our recommendations or whether it will do anything different as a result.”
Mary Creagh MP
EAC chair
EAC chair Mary Creagh MP said the Treasury was in a “powerful” position to affect huge change on sustainability and argued its current approach needs improvement.
She said: “In the Treasury’s response it is not clear whether it has considered our recommendations or whether it will do anything different as a result. This is deeply disappointing given that our report found the Treasury’s performance is far from outstanding.”
“The Chancellor must try harder in next week’s Budget to show he is taking action to secure sustainable economic growth which stimulates new, innovative environmental industries and jobs.”
Budget
Chancellor Philip Hammond is due to deliver the government’s Spring Budget next week (8 March), with the 2017/18 Landfill Tax rates to be confirmed as well preferred packaging recycling targets for up to 2020.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
