I will work across government and beyond to respond to the challenges of increasing food production, adapting to climate change, protecting our natural environment and ensuring we live sustainably
Caroline Spelman, environment secretary
And, Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne has been appointed as secretary of state for energy and climate change, in one of five Liberal Democrat appointments to the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition cabinet.
Mrs Spelman, 52, is the Member of Parliament for Meriden, in Solihull, and most recently held the post of shadow secretary for communities and local government, as well as having previously acted as a front bench spokeswoman on environmental affairs.
Nick Herbert, who most recently served as the Conservatives shadow secretary for environment, is yet to be given a ministerial role.
Alongside the newly-appointed secretary for communities and local government, Eric Pickles, she has been one of the most outspoken critics of the previous Labour government's policies on waste and recycling.
And, just weeks ago she hit out at Labour and the Lib Dem's support for “bin taxes”, as well as labelling the Waste and Resources Action Programme a “bin quango” (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mrs Spelman will now have overall responsibility for marrying the aims of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats on areas such as waste and recycling, but the junior minister in Defra who will be made specifically responsible for the sector is yet to be appointed.
Policies
Conservative policies for the waste sector on their election manifesto included placing a floor under the current rate of Landfill Tax up to 2020, providing funding for weekly waste collection, introducing a ‘Responsibility Deal' on reducing packaging waste from retailers and manufacturers and encouraging rewards for recycling.
However, the only mention of waste given in the Coalition Agreement published yesterday – which outlines the priority areas of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government – was to promote a “huge increase” in the uptake of energy-from-waste such as anaerobic digestion (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting on her appointment, Mrs Spelman said: “I am delighted to have been appointed secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs. The department is responsible for many of the things that are vital to our quality of life – the food we eat, the air we breathe and how we manage the land we live on and the seas that surround our shores.
“I will work across government and beyond to respond to the challenges of increasing food production, adapting to climate change, protecting our natural environment and ensuring we live sustainably.”
Before entering Parliament in 1997, Mrs Spelman had 15 years in the agriculture industry and was also involved in the sector in the international arena, with roles including as deputy director of the International Confederation of European Beet Growers and a research fellow for the Centre for European Agricultural Studies. She has also authored a book on the non-food use of agricultural products.
Energy
The appointment of Mrs Spelman to the environment post came hours after Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne had been officially handed the post of secretary of state for energy and climate change.
Some media outlets, such as the BBC, had suggested that Mr Huhne would be taking on the joint brief of environment and energy secretary. However, it appears that the department for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) and the department for energy and climate change (DECC) will remain separate.
Mr Huhne, 56, is the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh in Hampshire, and had held the role of spokesman for environment, food and rural affairs between March 2006 and December 2007 before becoming spokesman for home affairs.
The Coalition Agreement featured much more information on renewable energy than waste, with plans unveiled to establish a green investment bank, ensure the “full establishment” of feed-in tariffs in electricity and maintenance for banded Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).
And, the appointment of Mr Huhne comes in the wake of Liberal Democrat colleague Vince Cable being named secretary of state for business, which gives the economist responsibility for waste electricals and electronics (WEEE), automotive and industrial batteries and end-of-life vehicles (see letsrecycle.com story).
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