Bradford businesses were today urged to report on their environmental impacts as Defra issued guidelines to make it easier to do so.

Environment Minister, Elliot Morley said his message came on the back of recent coverage on the removal of the Operating and Finance Review (OFR) which suggested that environmental reporting was no longer necessary.

However, Mr Morley, said this was "simply not the case".

He said: "All quoted and large private companies preparing the new Business Review will need to report significant environmental issues.

"The Business Review represents a significant advance in narrative reporting standards, including those for environmental reporting.

"But these reports required under the EU Accounts Modernisation Directive need not be a burden. To help companies make the most of these opportunities, we have produced a set of new easy-to-use guidelines."

He added: "Currently, 140 of the top 250 companies report on their environmental performance: that's a good start, but many more of those that aren't have significant impacts on the environment.

"And then there are the companies outside the top 250. I want to see many more other companies actively managing and reporting their environmental performance too. Which is why the new Guidelines focus on performance indicators that are relevant to all types of businesses."

The new guidelines can be found at www.defra.gov. uk/environment/business/index.htm