Local government and transport work carried out by the old department will be moved to the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions (DTLR).
Stephen Byers has been appointed to head the DTLR. Margaret Beckett has been appointed to head DEFRA. The Environment Agency, Countryside Agency and English Nature will report to DEFRA which also takes on some controversial areas such as animal welfare and hunting, transferred from the Home Office.
Announcements on ministers and junior ministers are expected to be made by Monday June 11. No statement has yet been made by the government as to whether former environment minister Michael Meacher will retain responsibility for recycling and waste management.
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