Environmental Law (Level 5)

Government Departments

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF)
The main responsibilities of MAFF are concerning government policies on fisheries, agriculture and horticulture in England, and monitoring labelling and additives within food. The protection of the countryside and marine environment is also a responsibility of the group. With environmentally sensitive areas and the environmental dimensions of the EU CAP, there exists an Environment Task Force.

The DETR
Following the General Election on 1 May 1997, the Rt Hon John Prescott, MP was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. On 16 June 1997 the former Departments of Environment and Transport were merged to become the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). The main aim of this was to achieve a more integrated approach to policy on these issues. In addition to their responsibilities for the Department, its agencies and Government Offices for the Regions, ministers oversee the work of a number of important executive and advisory non departmental public bodies and nationalised industries. Visit their environmental protection website.

The Department of Health
This department is responsible for the administration of the National Health Service. A division of this is health related issues concerning the environment and food. This includes many issues surrounding chemical pollutants released into the environment and radiation.

The Overseas Development Administration (ODA)
The ODA primarily serves to assist foreign countries. A principal agency is the National Resources Institute (NRI), which provides aid in the form of sustainable management of natural resources through applying technology and science. The divisions that are related to environmental issues include: the Resource Management Division and the Applied Ecology Division.

Other Bodies
There are other bodies that aren't included under government departments, although provide a major contribution in protecting the environment. Many are a source of environmental funding such as the research councils, for example:

  • The Economic and Social Research Council.
  • The Natural Environment Research Council.
  • The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences research Council.
  • The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council.
  • The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council.
  • Horticultural Research International.
  • Pesticides Safety Inspectorate.
  • The Countryside Commission.
  • English Heritage.
  • English Nature.
  • The National Radiological Protection Board.
  • The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
  • The Forestry Commission.
  • UK Eco-Labelling Board.
  • The Public Health Laboratory Service.
  • The Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
  • The UK Atomic Energy Authority.
  • Deregulation Task Force.
  • The National trust.
  • There are also a number of voluntary groups:
    • Greenpeace.
    • Friends of the Earth.
    • The Rambler's Association.