The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has seen its budget cut by 15% over the course of this parliament in the Spending Review – but the Chancellor said the £2.3 billion flood defence spend had been protected.

George Osborne told MPs yesterday that resource savings of 15% in real terms by 2019-20 would be  delivered through efficiencies within the department and across its network.

However, the government would continue to prioritise investment in flood defences, he said.

 The government’s £2.3 billion capital programme will invest in over 1,500 schemes to give 300,000 homes greater security from flooding by 2021. Flood defence maintenance funding would also be protected and Defra would work with the Environment Agency to generate 10% efficiencies by 2019-20 with all savings reinvested to better protect another 4,000 homes.

The government said that via its ambitious efficiencies programme, Defra will become a more streamlined, digital department, sharing back office functions like IT, human resources and finance with its network bodies to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and devolving roles to the local frontline to ensure effective service delivery. Through this programme, Defra will reduce its administration budgets by 26% by 2019‑20, saving £123 million.

Defra would also continue to reduce costly bureaucracy and red tape, securing net savings to business of £470 million by the end of the Parliament.

Environment Secretary, Elizabeth Truss said:

“With today’s settlement we can now plan for the future. 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.”

“South West Water household customers would also continue to benefit from £50 off their bills throughout this Parliament, in recognition of the higher costs faced by water customers in the South West.”

The Chancellor said the government would invest £3 billion to enhance England’s countryside through the Common Agricultural Policy and funding for public forests will be safeguarded, with 11 million trees planted over the Parliament.

Funding for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty would also be protected, and National Parks will be given legal flexibilities to allow them to build sustainable, long-term revenue streams and boost growth in rural areas.

Lord Adonis: UK’s infrastructure needs will only truly be addressed via consistent long-term planning

Responding to the Spending Review, Lord Adonis, Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, said:

“We need to transform the way we plan and deliver major infrastructure projects in this country. The significant investment announced in today’s Spending Review represents a welcome step in the right direction – but it is only a start.”

“We will only truly address the UK’s infrastructure needs if we consistently plan for the long-term – not just over a year or a parliament but through properly assessing and acting on Britain’s strategic needs over the coming 20 to 30 years.”

“To secure the jobs and growth of the future, we have to get serious about planning and delivering the infrastructure this country needs to succeed.”

In the coming months the independent National Infrastructure Commission will complete its first three studies, and begin the work leading to the UK’s first National Infrastructure Assessment. Lord Adonis said the Commission will provide firm recommendations on major projects, strategic direction, and investment – and where government and others can and should do more it will make this clear.