Defra secretary of state Liz Truss has insisted that the government department will still meet all its objectives despite seeing its budget cut by 15 per cent in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.
Truss said the 15 per cent reduction would be achieved in real terms by 2019-20 through resource efficiencies within the department and across its network. A 26 per cent cut in Defra's administration budgets will save £123 million by 2020 as it moves towards becoming a more streamlined, digital department.
Key for farmers will be the establishment of a Single Farm Inspection Taskforce aimed at reducing the burden of inspections and cutting the number of these by 20,000 by 2019-20. Red tape reduction is set to bring a net saving to businesses of £470m by the end of the parliament.
Defra has earmarked £2.3 billion for a six-year investment programme in flood defences, over £130m for its science estates and equipment and £3bn to safeguard England's countryside through the Common Agricultural Policy.
Truss said: 'This strong funding settlement means we can press ahead with our vital work to protect the country from floods and animal and plant disease, put in place stronger protections for our natural landscape and deliver on our commitments for a cleaner, healthier environment which benefits people and the economy.
'Everyone has a part to play in eliminating the deficit by 2020 and, through its ambitious programme of efficiencies, Defra will go further to become a more modern organisation, streamlining services and doing things more strategically.'
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