Lord De Mauley corrected a written answer on European Union

11 March 2015 · Lords written answer · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat, Life peer) asked written question HL4830 on 9 February 2015. Lord De Mauley answered on 23 February 2015 for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Lord De Mauley corrected the answer on 11 March 2015. The figure £130,000 in the original became £13,000 in the correction. Altogether 2 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of the Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies, broken down by (1) staff time, (2) printing costs, (3) running of engagement events, (4) witness expenses, (5) publicity of the reports, and (6) any and all other associated costs.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
Defra was responsible for the following reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review: Animal Health and Welfare and Food Safety (which was produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency); Environment and Climate Change (which was produced jointly with DECC); Agriculture; and Fisheries. 1) Staff costs The cost of the Defra team which led on producing the four reports between 2012 and 2014 was approximately £500,000. The team drew on expert advice from staff across the Department. Providing a full breakdown of all staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. 2) Printing costs Defra paid approximately ~~£130,000~~ to print and publish the four reports. 3) Running engagement events Engagement events were held in Brussels, various locations in all parts of the UK, and at Defra’s London and York offices. The total cost of events, including refreshments and Defra staff travel, was approximately £4,000. To provide a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. 4) Witness expenses Defra did not incur any expenses for witnesses. 5) Publicity Defra did not incur expenses for publicity of the reports. 6) All other associated costs There were no other associated costs.	Defra was responsible for the following reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review: Animal Health and Welfare and Food Safety (which was produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency); Environment and Climate Change (which was produced jointly with DECC); Agriculture; and Fisheries. 1) Staff costs The cost of the Defra team which led on producing the four reports between 2012 and 2014 was approximately £500,000. The team drew on expert advice from staff across the Department. Providing a full breakdown of all staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. 2) Printing costs Defra paid approximately £13,000 to print and publish the four reports. 3) Running engagement events Engagement events were held in Brussels, various locations in all parts of the UK, and at Defra’s London and York offices. The total cost of events, including refreshments and Defra staff travel, was approximately £4,000. To provide a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. 4) Witness expenses Defra did not incur any expenses for witnesses. 5) Publicity Defra did not incur expenses for publicity of the reports. 6) All other associated costs There were no other associated costs.

Original

Corrected

Defra was responsible for the following reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review:
Animal Health and Welfare and Food Safety (which was produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency);
Environment and Climate Change (which was produced jointly with DECC);
Agriculture; and
Fisheries.
1) Staff costs
The cost of the Defra team which led on producing the four reports between 2012 and 2014 was approximately £500,000. The team drew on expert advice from staff across the Department. Providing a full breakdown of all staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
2) Printing costs
Defra paid approximately ~~£130,000~~ to print and publish the four reports.
3) Running engagement events
Engagement events were held in Brussels, various locations in all parts of the UK, and at Defra’s London and York offices. The total cost of events, including refreshments and Defra staff travel, was approximately £4,000. To provide a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
4) Witness expenses
Defra did not incur any expenses for witnesses.
5) Publicity
Defra did not incur expenses for publicity of the reports.
6) All other associated costs
There were no other associated costs.

Defra was responsible for the following reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review:
Animal Health and Welfare and Food Safety (which was produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency);
Environment and Climate Change (which was produced jointly with DECC);
Agriculture; and
Fisheries.
1) Staff costs
The cost of the Defra team which led on producing the four reports between 2012 and 2014 was approximately £500,000. The team drew on expert advice from staff across the Department. Providing a full breakdown of all staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
2) Printing costs
Defra paid approximately £13,000 to print and publish the four reports.
3) Running engagement events
Engagement events were held in Brussels, various locations in all parts of the UK, and at Defra’s London and York offices. The total cost of events, including refreshments and Defra staff travel, was approximately £4,000. To provide a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
4) Witness expenses
Defra did not incur any expenses for witnesses.
5) Publicity
Defra did not incur expenses for publicity of the reports.
6) All other associated costs
There were no other associated costs.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/178680?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`cdea2318078dfb339cc933f50e31c0804334ceeba10cc6eca3681325c82e08a8`