Today I am announcing the start of the triennial review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). Triennial reviews of non-department public bodies are part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring accountability in public life. The JNCC is a UK body and the review will be conducted jointly with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. I expect to announce the findings of the review and recommendations in early summer 2013.

A joint discussion paper is being issued today, inviting responses by 11 April 2013. A copy of this discussion paper, which includes the terms of reference for the review, has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.