Consultation on the draft Soil Strategy for England
Soils Policy Team
Environmental Land Management Division
Area 3C, Nobel House,
London, SW1P 3JR
Telephone 020 7238 6363
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/land/soil/sap/index.htm
Email:soilstrategy.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk
31 March 2008
Dear Consultee
Consultation on the draft Soil Strategy for England
1. I am writing to invite your views on Defra’s proposals for a Soil Strategy for England and to obtain any information and evidence you may have for the purpose of preparing an Impact Assessment on this proposal.
The proposals apply to England only.
2. The following documents relating to this consultation may be found on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/soilstrategy/index.htm:
- Consultation letter
- List of consultees
- Consultation on the draft Soil Strategy for England
3. The list of consultees provides details of those organisations to whom notification of this consultation has been emailed. Please inform us if you know of others who may wish to be involved in this consultation process.
4. We welcome your views and comments on this proposal. If you need Defra to print out and send you a copy of the consultation documents, please write to:
Soils Policy Team, Defra, 3C Nobel House, London, SW1P 3JR
soilstrategy.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk (020 7238 6419)
What consultees are invited to do
5. You are welcome to comment on all aspects of our proposed Soil Strategy but there are some specific issues on which we would particularly value your input.
6. In particular, your views are sought on the following initial questions:
a) What do you currently consider to be the most serious pressures on our soils and soil functions?
b) What do you think the objectives for soils policy should be for the next 5-10 years?
c) Do you consider Defra’s suggested priority work areas to be correct?
d) What are your views on the costs and benefits of the work that is proposed under these priority work areas in particular the key next steps that have been included?
7. A series of more detailed questions on which we would appreciate your comments is set out in this consultation document. When you respond it would be helpful if you can indicate clearly the specific questions to which your answers relate. Where possible please provide explanation and examples to support comments made.
Responses
8. Please send your responses by email to: soilstrategy.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Alternatively, responses can be sent by post to:
Rebecca Taylor
Defra
Soils Policy Team
Area 3C, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London, SW1P 3JR
Tel: 020 7238 6419.
9. Responses should be received by 23 June 2008.
Publication of responses
10. In line with Defra's policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive will be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain will also be published in a summary of responses.
11. If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in email responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which Defra and the devolved administrations will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2004, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
12. This consultation has been produced in accordance with the Better Regulation Executive Guidance on consultation.
13. The Defra Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or e-mail requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours' notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
14. A summary of responses will also be made available on Defra’s website at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/soil-directive/index.htm
15. If you have any comments or complaints about the consultation process, as opposed to about the issue in the consultation paper, please address them to:
Defra Consultation Co-ordinator – Marjorie Addo
Area 7B Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Email: consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk
16. Thank you for your help in this matter. If you have any queries please contact us as above.
Yours sincerely,
Maya de Souza
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Page published: 31 March 2008