AQW 2873/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 06/09/2022
Answered On Date: 26/09/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail how his Department upholds Section 25 of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 in relation to Government Departments and District Councils having a statutory duty to promote the achievement of sustainable development in the exercise of their functions.

Answer:

The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 does not place any statutory requirement on my Department to monitor or enforce Section 25 nor does it provide any enabling powers.

My Department has however, previously engaged with the Department for International Development (DfID), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the other Devolved Administrations to undertake and publish the UK Voluntary National Review (VNR). The VNR took stock of progress towards achievement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provided a mechanism for independent review.