Could do better - DETR criticised over performance

The massive Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions has come in for resounding criticism by its Commons scrutiny committee.

The Labour-dominated committee complains of too few tangible improvements delivered and too many documents and policy statements published. It also cites a lack of integration between transport and environmental objectives.

The DETR spends about £13bn each year in support of policies and programmes covering housing, environmental protection, health & safety, energy and transport, together representing a large proportion of national infrastructure - as well as a range of politically and economically sensitive issues.

In recent months, the government's transportation policies have been questioned regularly and there was at one stage a suggestion that the DETR might be broken in half again. Deputy Prime Minister - and DETR head - John Prescott appears to have so far headed off that proposal.

Responding to the criticisms, a DETR spokesman said: "We are in the first stages of a long-term programme. Not all improvements are going to take place overnight."

Elliott Chase