Defra has today (13 April) launched a consultation regarding the draft Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007-2012 and invites views on the environmental impact of the proposals. The RDPE remains in draft at this stage as it will need to be approved by the European Commission and this submission has been delayed by the prolonged discussions with regard to funding and voluntary modulation. Defra hopes to now submit the draft RDPE to the Commission in May 2007 and therefore has asked that where possible it would be helpful to them to receive initial responses by 1st May 2007, which is prior to the end of the 12 week consultation period, but that the consultation will continue to be open for responses up until 5th July 2007 and any comments received between 1st May and 5th July will be taken into account with necessary adjustments to the Programme made and submitted to the Commission as amendments to the draft RDPE.