Home > Press releases > 2001
11 Jun 2001
Tony Blair's radical reorganisation of Whitehall sees environment issues
taken out of the old Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions
and given to an enlarged Agriculture Ministry, which now has responsibility
for countryside and environmental protection.
But the move leaves key environment decisions in Stephen Byers' Transport
Department,which has kept responsibility for planning and other key
areas. It also raises the question of how mainly urban green issues
- such as waste, recycling and incineration - will be dealt with by
the new Departments.
The new Whitehall's green credentials will be put to the test in the
immediate future, with three key planning decisions in the new Government's
In Tray. They are:
The Government must decide in the near future whether to allow
BNFL to open the Sellafield Mixed Oxide Plutonium (MOX) plant, which
will make fuel rods, that could power a new generation of nuclear
plants. Mr Blair promised during the General Election that "we
have absolutely no plans to expand nuclear power" (Press Conference,
June 5th, source: Reuters) but Downing Street and the DTI have been
pushing for MOX to be given the green light, despite a lack of orders.
FOE is taking the Government to court over the MOX plant.
Margaret Beckett should say NO to MOX
The Government must decide in the near future whether to approve
the building of the Hastings bypasses, which would rip through three
nationally important wildlife sites and the High Weald Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty. The road scheme, if building proceeds will see the
first major road protests of this Parliament. Labour threatened
to build 100 new bypasses in their Election manifesto, but promised
to consider the environmental implications of each scheme.
Stephen Byers should say NO to the Hastings bypasses
The Government must decide on the inspector's report into the building
of Terminal 5 at Heathrow. FOE and local campaigners oppose Terminal
5. The inspector is reported to have backed Terminal 5, but only
on tough conditions including limits on flight and passenger numbers
based on BAA's own evidence to the Inquiry. In the past, Labour
has promised to abide by the Inspector's recommendations. But civil
aviation's active and New Labour-connected political lobbyists will
be pressing the Government to drop the Inspector's conditions.
Stephen Byers should say NO to the aviation lobbyists and make
sure that BAA keeps its own promises on Terminal 5.
Commenting, FOE Executive Director Charles Secrett said:
"No Whitehall structure is ever perfect. But this new structure
raises vital questions about this Government's approach to environmental
issues. How can planning decisions be green if they are no longer taken
by the environment department? Will the new transport department blithely
give the go ahead for damaging new road schemes and uncontrolled airport
growth? Are we about to see a pro-nuclear U-turn over MOX? Labour's
green record so far has been mediocre. Will the new Whitehall shove
the environment even further down the priority list? The key decisions
now awaiting Ministers mean that these crucial questions cannot be evaded
for very long."
Other key green decisions also confront ministers, including:
The Government must decide in the near future whether to approve an
export credit of up to £200 million for Balfour Beatty for its
part in the building of the Ilisu Dam in Turkey. The dam would destroy
dozens of Kurdish towns and villages including the world historic site
of Hasankeyf, lead to thousands of Kurds losing their homes without
adequate compensation, and threaten conflict over water resources with
Syria and Iraq. Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt should say no to the
export credit application.
In the past year, oil companies have made record profits as world oil
prices rise, despite selling products which damage our climate at prices
that hurt the rural poor. Chancellor Gordon Brown should impose a windfall
tax on oil company profits and spend the revenues on renewable energy
and public transport.
The Government is to announce a Commission to consider the future of arming, after the foot and mouth disaster. The Commission must be independent of the intensive farming lobby, and must have terms of reference that allow it to look at the economic, social, and environmental benefits of competing farming methods, including organic and low intensity farming.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
