Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
2 July 2009
"It appears that the recession is already taking its toll on DEFRA, which has had its budget cut by £200 million since the pre-Budget report. Will the Minister confirm to rural communities that DEFRA's budget is frozen for the next three years—what the Prime Minister would call a "zero per cent. rise"—which means that it will be cut in real terms?"
Nick Herbert MP, Shadow Secretaray for Environment and Rural Affairs