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The consultation

  1. What consultation has there been on the next Programme?
  2. What is the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)?
  3. What is the Environmental Report?
  4. What were the main findings of the Environmental Report on the draft England Programme?
  5. What was included in the consultation package?
  6. How was it possible to submit the Programme Document when the consultation on the draft Rural Development Programme and Environmental Report remained open?
  7. What's the difference between the SEA consultation version of the Programme Document and the version submitted to the European Commission?
  8. What will happen now the consultation has closed?
  9. What about consultation on the Regional Implementation Plans?
  10. Has a regulatory Impact Assessment been prepared for the RDPE?
1.  What consultation has there been on the next Programme?
  • A consultation on the national priorities for the next Rural Development Programme for England ran from 27 February to 22 May 2006. 
  • The results of this consultation and that done at a regional level have informed the content of the National Strategy for England, and the detailed programme document.
  • In addition, in order to meet our obligations under the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (European Directive 2001/42/EC) a consultation on the draft Programme ran from 13 April until 5 July 2007.
  • This consultation provided interested parties with the opportunity to express their opinions on the findings of an Environmental Report, which was prepared on the likely overall impact of the Programme and to use that report as a reference point for commenting on the Programme's strategy, priorities and proposed activities.
2.  What is the Strategic Environmental Assesment (SEA)?
3.  What is the Environmental report?
  • The Environmental Report is a key output of the SEA process. It describes the environmental background against which the Programme has been prepared and the likely environmental impacts, both positive and negative, of the Programme. Where appropriate, the SEA makes suggestions to improve those impacts.
4.  What were the main findings of the Environmental Report on the draft England Programme?
  • The overall findings of the Environmental Report were that the Programme will have a significant positive environmental impact. Particularly strong impacts were identified in regard of protecting and enhancing biodiversity, protecting and enhancing water quality, climate change mitigation, protecting and enhancing landscape character and quality, and the historic and cultural environment.
  • Generally positive impacts were identified in regard to soil conservation, economic development, environmental awareness, and building sustainable communities.  
5. What was included in the consultation package?
  • The consultation also included a draft of Chapters 1 to 5 of the RDPE Programme document. These were incomplete working drafts, but included the evidence base on which the RDPE is based, Programme priorities and information on how the Rural Development Regulation measures will be used in the England Programme.
6.  How was it possible to submit the Programme Document when the consultation on the draft Rural Development Programme and the Environmental Report remained open?
  • The consultation ran for 12 weeks and all responses received in that time were given full consideration. We could not begin the consultation before the financial arrangements had been settled, which was not until March 2007, but we wanted to avoid a further lengthy delay in seeking programme approval. We therefore submitted the draft for consideration by the Commission whilst the consultation was in process.
7. What's the difference between the SEA consultation version of the Programme Document and the version submitted to the European Commission?
  • The SEA version of the Programme Document contains the 'core' Chapters of the Programme: Chapter 3 - the evidence base, Chapter 4 - the Strategy, and Chapter 5 - the measures: an explanation of which Rural Development Regulation measures we will use in the England Programme, and how we will use them.
  • The Programme Document contains all the Chapters and information required by the Regulations.
  • The version of the Programme Document submitted to the Commission reflects some of the first reactions of consultees to the consultation and further work we have carried out to improve the drafting of Chapters 1 to 5.
8. What will happen now the consultation has closed?
  • An SEA statement has been produced.  The SEA statement summarises the issues raised in the Environmental Report and the consultation. The SEA statement provides Defra’s response to these issues.
  • The SEA statement has been incorporated into the RDPE Programme Document.
9. What about consultation on the Regional Implementation Plans?
  • Regions are talking to a wide range of regional partners as they develop regional implementation plans. The content of the plans has informed the England Programme Document.
  • For further information about arrangements in the regions, please contact Government Offices in the first instance.
10. Has a Regulatory Impact Assessment been prepared for the RDPE?

Page last modified: 28 August, 2009
Page published: 21 July, 2005