The disbanded Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) “made a positive contribution across Government and society over the past 10 years,” environment minister James Paice told green MP Dr Caroline Lucas in a written reply, which also paid tribute to its work and to the current and previous chairs Will Day and Jonathon Porritt.

To strengthen government performance and to “mainstream” this effectively across Government, DEFRA will “establish an enhanced departmental capability and presence on sustainable development and withdraw funding from the SDC from the next financial year, increasing government responsibility and transparency,” he said.

Hansard, 27 July: Column 1094W