Rethinking Rural Delivery
Lord Haskins Recommends Radical New Approach To Delivery Of Defra’s Rural Policies To Improve Accountability, Effectiveness, User-Friendliness And Taxpayer Value For Money - 11 November 2003
Rural policy delivery should be responsive to local needs and operate at a regional and local level wherever possible, according to Lord Haskins' Rural Delivery Review, published on today.
The report recommends a clearer division between the policy process and delivery functions, to raise the quality of both policy and delivery to increase accountability. Widespread devolution of rural delivery arrangements will improve focus on need and make the system much more user-friendly.
Speaking today Lord Haskins said:
"Last week Defra's Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, set out her vision for rural England, and outlined the changes needed to realise it. My proposals have been developed to enable Defra and its delivery network to achieve these new policy objectives. Huge challenges are ahead - including the implementation of CAP reforms, the establishment of higher environmental standards in the countryside, maintaining growth in rural communities, whilst at the same time providing value for money for the taxpayer.
“My analysis highlights five areas of concern:
- People who deal with Defra are unsure about both their entitlements and obligations.
- There are too many uncoordinated agencies and regulations.
- Responsibility for delivery is confused and it is hard to ascertain where accountability lies.
- The system is overcentalised and does not take proper account of local and regional diverse needs and expectations.
- There are too many programmes and initiatives which result in unsatisfactory, wasteful outcomes.
“My recommendations are based on two principles of good management which should apply in large institutions, public and private:
- Clarity about the distinctive and different roles of policy making and policy delivery, to improve accountability, and ensure proper consultation between the two.
- Devolution of delivery away from central government to regional and local networks to achieve a more flexible and effective response to local needs.
“I am also recommending the creation of an integrated agency to coordinate the activities of existing conservation agencies and to manage the emerging environmental programmes, arising out of CAP reform. It will strengthen and expand the remit of English Nature and will be a provider of independent advice to policy makers in all aspects of bio-diversity.
“Finally I make recommendations for a radical simplification of the delivery and regulatory networks to make them more user-friendly and effective.
“I believe that without these radical changes Defra might be unable to deliver its changing, expanding, complicated agenda and that a cautious piece-meal response to this report would be wrong. The recommendations need to be seen as a whole.
“Whilst these recommendations will have a significant impact on the dedicated people working in the Defra delivery network, I believe that they will provide more attractive and structured career options and will complement the government's commitment to moving the balance of delivery away from London towards the regions.
Notes for Editors
- Read the full report of Lord Haskins’ Rural Delivery Review.
- Read Defra’s initial response to the Rural Delivery Review.
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett invited Chris Haskins to carry out a review of the arrangements for delivering the government’s rural policies. The review was announced on 8th November 2002 (Defra Press Notice 453/02).
- The Review’s Terms of Reference were published on 6th December 2002 (Defra Press Notice 504/02).
- Chris Haskins published his Scoping Document, drawing on Defra’s rural policy objectives and the main issues to be explored on 20th December 2002 (Defra Press notice 531/02).
- Following his terms of reference, Chris Haskins has been looking primarily at the delivery roles of Defra itself (including the Rural Development Service) and the agencies sponsored by Defra (including the Countryside Agency, Environment Agency and English Nature). He has also been taking account of the relationships between these organisations' activities and those of a wider range of bodies, in particular Government Offices for the Regions, the Regional Development Agencies, the Small Business Service, the Forestry Commission, the National Parks and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty teams. Local government, parish and town councils, the Regional Chambers and a range of voluntary organisations also have important rural functions, which the review has considered.
- The following lay outside the scope of the review:
- Defra’s Rural Payments Agency, except the interface and relationship with the Rural Development Service;
- the State Veterinary Service;
- the non-rural environmental activities of Defra and the Environment Agency
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 11 November, 2003