Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015, what efficiency savings will be made to meet planned reductions in her Department's budget; and how much of the overall reduction in her Department's Resource DEL budget will be accounted for by such savings.

Defra is planning to remain within its budgetary control totals for 2015-16 and is currently developing options to deliver the £83m savings referenced in the press release by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015. These options include tight control of budgets to drive underspends in-year; further efficiency savings; and asset sales. The options are being considered across the Core Department and Defra’s executive agencies and NDPBs.