DEFRA agencies fall victim to budget cuts

Three DEFRA agencies are among the first victims of government attempts to slash Britain’s burgeoning budget deficit.

The Commission for Rural Communities, which acts as the government’s rural watchdog, is to be axed.

At the same time, the Animal Health Agency and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency are to be merged.

DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman made the announcement in a written ministerial statement on Tuesday (29 June).

She had examined its network of 80 arms-length bodies and the Commission for Rural Communities would be abolished, Mrs Spelman said.

“With an urgent need to drive down debt and reduce government spending we will have to make some tough decisions,” she said.

“Our belief is that policy should be driven from the centre and that our arms-length bodies will be efficient and effective in meeting customer needs.”

Established in April 2005, the commission worked to ensure that government policies, programmes and decisions took account of rural needs.

Mrs Spelman said it would be replaced with a strengthened Rural Communities Policy Unit within DEFRA.

She also announced that Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency would be merged as soon as possible.

Merging the two agencies would bring together their services, expertise and scientific capability in combating animal diseases, Mrs Spelman said.

“We will improve our resilience and create a strong organisation that provides a range of services from on farm advice and emergency response to the world-class laboratory work and science for which we are rightly recognised.”

NFU president Peter Kendall described the merger as logical. Further budget cuts to other agencies were likely, he warned.

“We must be prepared for substantial cuts in all DEFRA agencies,” said Mr Kendall.

“The important thing is to focus on ensuring that farmers are able to produce food while protecting the environment.”

But shadow DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn condemned the abolition of the rural commission.

“This will destroy a cross-government body that gave advice to all departments and replace it with new civil service posts in just one department. This will reduce the rural voice in Whitehall by taking away an independent view representing the countryside and its needs.”

Abolishing the commission would require legislation, but in the meantime there were many unanswered questions.

“How much will this cost?  How many new civil service posts will have to be created inside DEFRA? And where does this leave the role of the Rural Advocate?”