Why is the UK Government Cutting Defra's Budget So Much?The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is facing the largest cut of any government department since 2009, and this could spell catastrophe for UK wildlife conservation, air quality and water pollution.

Defra was hit by a 34% cut to its operating costs during the last parliament, and if things go the way they seem to be going, they will be hit by another whopping cut when the spending review is announced on 25 November.

According to an announcement made by the chancellor, George Osborne, on 9 November, “The Treasury and the departments for the environment, transport and local government and communities have agreed to average annual cuts of 8% in their operating costs, a total of 30% over the next four years.”

According to economists at the RSPB, this will amount to a cut of 57% in real terms since the Conservatives came into power, once inflation has been taken into account, and according to director for England of the Wildlife Trusts, Stephen Trotter, “The proposals will create “real question marks over whether the government can continue to deliver its most basic functions and responsibilities for the natural environment”.

[Source: The Guardian]

While the agreement reached excludes capital expenditure and funding for disease prevention and flood defences will likely not be affected, areas such as water pollution, air quality and wildlife conservation could find themselves in the unenviable position of having to manage cuts of up to 80% over the two parliaments.

The fact that the environment is once again facing the biggest cuts is frightening, especially in the light of recent reports of threats to the water quality in the UK. According to Osborne, “These savings will be achieved by a combination of further efficiencies in departments, closing low-value programmes, and focusing on our priorities as a country.” This certainly begs the question whether Osborne thinks that protecting the environment is of low-value.

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