Food policy is spread over various departments and policy areas, so there are several noteworthy appointments in the government formed by PM Theresa May after the EU referendum
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a new Secretary of State in Andrea Leadsom, a leading Brexit campaigner and defeated Tory leadership candidate. George Eustice, who survived the reshuffle, will carry on as farming minister. Newly appointed junior minister Thérèse Coffey will take responsibility for waste, air quality, flooding and biodiversity. Following the abolition of the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, working in Defra, will have responsibility for climate change adaptation.
Other relevant portfolios are located in the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), where Greg Clark becomes Secretary of State. Nick Hurd takes on another aspect of climate policy, as minister for climate change, and also becomes minister for industry. He is supported by Margot James, whose remit covers small business (including the Small Business Commissioner, Groceries Code Adjudicator and Pubs Code Adjudicator), labour markets (including trade union and employment law), corporate governance, local growth and the national minimum wage. Jesse Norman, also working under Nick Hurd, takes responsibility for the retail supply chain. Jo Johnson will address 'agritech-industrial strategy'. Finally, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, a former Tesco executive, will focus on the EU single market and lead on all business issues in the Lords.
Read the full list of BEIS appointments here, and find out more about Sustain's policies for the food and farming sector here.
Published Sunday 14 August 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
