A report in the Guardian newspaper says the European Commission is warning that wasting valuable natural resources could lead to scarcity, price rises and increase the threat of recession in the European Union. The EU Environment Commissioner is also calling for the EU to eliminate environmentally-harmful subsidies – including water pricing schemes which do not recover fully water use costs. 

The UK construction sector is questioning the ability of the Government’s plans to use a £5 billion boost to infrastructure spending and a £20 billion investment from pension funds to stimulate the economy.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched a new consultation on its proposals for the implementation of the Sustainable Drainage Provisions in the Flood and Water Management Act.

The Government has accepted all of the key recommendations of the Löfstedt Review of health and safety legislation - and plans to end the "gold-plating" of European Union regulation.

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