British government criticised over environment

The British government has been criticised in a parliamentary report for failing to deliver its promises on protecting the environment.

The report, by a committee of Members of Parliament, says that the government has a long way to go to satisfy the expectations it raised.

The BBC political correspondent says that when he came to power in 1997, the British Prime Minister promised to deliver a truly green government, with environmental issues at the heart of all its policies.

But the committee says that the government has not achieved that aim.

It says that one of its biggest failings is a lack of clear targets.

The report recommends the appointment of an environmental auditor to monitor government performance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service