Royal Assent for Environment Bill

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, which creates two new organisations charged with conserving and enhancing England's valuable natural environment and giving a stronger voice to rural communities, received Royal Assent today.

Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: "The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act will help achieve our vision of thriving rural communities, fair access to services and a rich and diverse natural environment. At its heart is the principle of sustainable development: meeting the needs of people today while laying the foundations for future generations to enjoy and benefit from a healthy natural environment and sustainable communities.

"The Act sets up Natural England as a powerful champion for the natural environment, bringing together the strengths of English Nature, parts of the Countryside Agency, and most of the Rural Development Service to conserve and enhance our landscapes and biodiversity and importantly to help people enjoy them.

"It also establishes the Commission for Rural Communities, which will be a strong national rural adviser, advocate and watchdog, charged with ensuring Government policies are making a real difference on the ground in tackling rural disadvantage."

Jim Knight, Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity, said: "We can now look forward with confidence to Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities taking up their full functions in October. People throughout the country will benefit from the more integrated approach offered by Natural England, while the Commission for Rural Communities will be a powerful new rural advocate unhampered by delivery functions.

"Through this Act, we have delivered our commitment to curtail the inappropriate use of byways by motor vehicles by putting an end to claims for motor vehicle access on the basis of historical use by horse-drawn vehicles. Some of the worst damage is happening in our national parks, which is why we have given National Park Authorities the power to make traffic regulation orders.

"We have also created a duty for public and statutory bodies to integrate biodiversity into their decision-making, further protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest from damage, clarified national parks legislation, and strengthened the enforcement powers of those fighting wildlife crime."

The Act also gives the Secretary of State greater flexibility in allocating funding and delegating responsibility to delivery bodies working under Defra's remit. This will help make access to grants and services simpler and easier for customers, and enable delivery to be better tailored to regional needs.

Before the provisions of the Act become "active law", they must be commenced. The majority of the Act's remaining provisions will be commenced on 1 October 2006.

Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities will also be formally established on 1 October 2006. English Nature and the Countryside Agency will be wound up on the same date.

Some of the Act's provisions will be commenced before 1 October, which will allow Natural England to set up the organisation ahead of receiving its full powers when taking over from English Nature and the Countryside Agency; and to make three urgent amendments to existing legislation around National Park designation procedures, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and Rights of Way.