Environmental Protection and Green Growth

Yes, I agree, and I know that the Government are working to close tax loopholes, as we did in government. DEFRA published its ““Mainstreaming sustainable development”” strategy in February—just seven pages to cut across the whole of Government. Its sustainable development programme board has not met since December last year and the sustainable development policy working group has not met since November. We got those answers in June 2011, so we can see that sustainable development is clearly no longer at the heart of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. What does this add up to? The Government have a plan for cuts but no plan for the environment, yet at Tory conference the Environment Secretary told her colleagues:"““I passionately believe going green is both a moral and economic imperative.””" The very next day the Chancellor told the conference:"““We're going to cut our carbon emissions no slower but also no faster than our fellow countries in Europe.””" It was the day the husky died. The greenest Government ever were not even the greenest Government in 2010. Our Labour Government were the greenest Government, and I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn). I pay tribute also to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies), who makes a welcome return to our team, for the progress that he made on the environment when he was a Minister.