Envirowise faces cuts as DEFRA seeks to plug deficit

The budget axe hangs over Envirowise, the government-funded body providing environmental advice to industry, as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) seeks to plug a huge funding deficit.

Speaking at the Food Environmental Efficiency Day on February 5 food minister Lord Rooker confirmed a budgetary crisis meeting headed by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn was scheduled for later that day.

Rooker denied reports in The Guardian attributing the funding crisis to costs from last year’s foot and mouth, blue tongue and avian flu outbreaks in the UK and the “mess up” over farmers’ payments.

However, he would not discount the suggestion that Envirowise would suffer budget cuts similar to the 25% already announced​ by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and Food From Britain, two other organisations also supported by DEFRA.

DEFRA needed to make “a few technical adjustments” to its budget, admitted Rooker. While he applauded the work being done by Envirowise, WRAP and the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme, he said DEFRA’s financial support should be seen as “seed corn” rather than an endless commitment.

“Our commitment is there, but money goes up and down,” said Rooker. “No decision has actually been made [regarding cuts].”

Envirowise programme director Dr Martin Gibson would also not be drawn on what cuts might be expected. “Anything I said would be pure speculation,” he said.

The Guardian had reported that a DEFRA budget shortfall of £1bn over three years existed. It said there were plans to impose cuts within the Environment Agency which, together with other green organisations supported by DEFRA, is central to implementing DEFRA’s sustainability strategy.

Envirowise and WRAP are both partially financed by landfill taxes, which are scheduled to rise by £8 per tonne in April from the current level of £24/t to £32/t.

According to Gibson, Envirowise generates £10 of savings for every £1 spent. However, he envisaged a time in the future when Envirowise’s activities might need to be reviewed as the easy initial savings were achieved and the return on investment began to fall.