Haskins Report on Rural Services

4.01.24pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Nov 2003

Lord Haskins proposes merging Defra with other agencies including the Countryside Agendy and English Nature.

Commenting on the publication of Lord Haskins report on rural services, Warwickshire Euro-MP Liz Lynne said: "The broad thrust of this report, with its emphasis on better co-ordination and devolution, is very welcome. However, some legitimate concerns remain.

"Firstly, I am greatly concerned at his proposals to merge English Nature with Defra's rural development wing. There is a perception that such a step would be regarded by many as revenge on English Nature for undermining Tony Blair's crusade to force GM foods on the public.

"The Labour government has repeatedly failed to understand the concept of devolution which it regards as simply keeping government agencies on longer leashes. True devolution is about local communities making their own decisions, not simply giving managers greater flexibility in carrying out centralised policy decisions. There is a real danger that the Labour government will merely cherry pick the bits of this report that they like and shy away from the proposals to give local communities real power to solve their own problems."