And, the departure of Mrs Ruddock has prompted questions as to whether there will be a realignment of waste and recycling between three government departments, Defra, BERR (the Department for Business) and the new Department of Energy and Climate Change. Adjustments could be made for specific topics such as batteries and WEEE but waste as a major subject is set to remain with Defra.
Mrs Ruddock was one of three ministerial appointments to be made today (October 6) to the new department, which was established by Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday (see letsrecycle.com story).
She is joined at the department, which is headed by secretary of state for energy and climate change Ed Miliband, by ministers of state Mike O'Brien and Lord Hunt.
The department of energy and climate change (DECC) will bring together much of the work of Defra's Climate Change Group and the Energy Group from BERR.
Hilary Benn
The reshuffle has seen a clean sweep of ministers departing Defra, with the exception of secretary of state for the environment Hilary Benn, with Phil Woolas leaving to take up the role of immigration minister and Jonathan Shaw – who held responsibilities with regards fisheries, also leaving.
In their place, Jane Kennedy has been appointed as a minister of state, Huw Irranca-Davies is a parliamentary under secretary of state and Lord Hunt's role at DECC will also give him responsibilities at Defra.
With the last minute nature of the changes prior to Parliament's return from summer recess today, the exact role of the new ministers at both DECC and Defra is as yet unknown, though announcements of ministers portfolios at Defra are expected tomorrow.
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