And, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas was this week confirmed as the minister with responsibility for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling at the newly-renamed department for business, innovation and skills (BIS)
At Defra, Mr Norris has been handed a diverse portfolio as a parliamentary under secretary of state which sees him being made responsible for waste and recycling alongside issues including sustainable development, carbon budgeting, biofuels and rural affairs.
Prior to yesterday's announcement, Mr Norris had served as a parliamentary private secretary to the foreign secretary, David Miliband, since summer 2007.
He has also held a similar role working with the then Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain, where he claims to have been “heavily involved” in the province's devolution agreement.
Between 2001 and 2003, Mr Norris served as an assistant government whip, before stepping down to focus on his constituency work.
Mr Norris, who grew up near Bristol and Bath and has lived locally all his life, was first elected to parliament in 1997 as MP for Wansdyke – which will be formally re-named as North-East Somerset at the next general election, following changes by the Boundary Commission.
Jane Kennedy
His appointment came as Jane Kennedy confirmed that she had been sacked from her role at Defra (see letsrecycle.com story ) for refusing to support Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
In a statement on her website, Ms Kennedy said she “was not invited to stay on as a Government Minister in the Prime Minister's re-shuffle, after she was unable to give Gordon Brown an oath of allegiance.”
Ministerial team
Mr Norris is joined in Defra's new ministerial team by the department's existing parliamentary under-secretary of state, Huw Irranca-Davies, environment secretary Hilary Benn – who was not moved in last week's ministerial reshuffle (see letsrecycle.com story), and Jim Fitzpatrick, who's appointment as a minister of state was revealed on Monday.
It had been believed that Mr Fitzpatrick would be handed the waste and recycling role, but the decision to assign it to Mr Norris means that it will now be held by a less senior minister than was the case when Ms Kennedy was at the department.
Department for Business
Today (June 11) has also seen the confirmation of the new ministerial responsibilities at the newly-formed department for business, innovation and skills (BIS), which was established on Friday, bringing together BERR and the department for innovation, universities and skills (DIUS).
Following the departure of Ian Pearson, who had been responsible for WEEE at the department since October 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), the brief for sustainability issues has been handed to Ian Lucas, who will serve as minister for business and regulatory reform.
Mr Lucas has also been given responsibility for the part BERR will play in implementing the EU Batteries Directive – largely relating to automotive and industrial batteries.
Mr Lucas, who is 49, has served as MP for Wrexham, in North Wales, since 2001, and joins the department for business after serving since October 2008 as an assistant government whip.
In a statement following his appointment to the department for business, he said: “I am naturally very pleased to have been asked to take the post. It is an honour for myself and a boost for the profile of Wrexham.
“I have long held an interest in the areas covered by my post at the department for business, innovation and skills such as aerospace and the automotive industry, both as a constituency MP for Wrexham and as a Parliamentarian. It will also be very exciting to work with Lord Mandelson and other colleagues in the department.
“I am now relishing the chance to translate my interests and experiences into action and help Britain build for the future,” he added.
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