Truss to lead Defra as Fallon leaves BIS

South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss, a vocal opponent to Norfolk county councils plans for an energy-from-waste plant in Kings Lynn, has replaced Owen Paterson as Environment Secretary.

The Conservative MP, who was voted into office in 2010, had previously held a position as under secretary of state at the Department for Education.

The reshuffle has also seen a change at the top of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS), with Michael Fallon the minister responsible for shaping the WEEE Regulations and policy around End of Life Vehicles moving to the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Fallon was also in line for a new post of waste champion within BIS which was seen by some as confirming the departments involvement in waste issues with some in the sector clamouring for waste policy to be moved from Defra to BIS.

The appointment of Mrs Truss means that the department is again headed by a woman and comes as part of a government reshuffle to increase the number of women in senior posts.

Leadership

Previously the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been led by Caroline Spelman, from 2010 to 2012, and Margaret Beckett under Labour from 2001 to 2006.

Both women took an active interest in the sector, with Mrs Spelman maintaining an involvement via the Environmental Audit Committee since leaving the front bench. Mrs Beckett was one of the longest serving Secretaries of State at the Department and took the lead in presenting waste policy proposals.

An Oxford graduate and former economist Mrs Truss is the co-author of a book titled After the Coalition which argues in favour of a more entrepreneurial culture.

With a largely rural constituency, she has campaigned extensively on issues around farming and has raised concerns over the use of agricultural land for solar or biomass plants.

Her constituency was also one of the hardest hit during the winter flooding during late 2013 and early 2014 and she was critical of the governments lack of a long term solution to help prevent future floods.

King’s Lynn

Her opposition to the Kings Lynn incinerator was based largely on the economic case against the facility.

She supported the findings of a report by waste consultancy Eunomia which claimed that the treatment cost would be around 30 higher for the council for every tonne of waste sent to the facility, compared to exporting waste overseas for treatment (see letsrecycle.com).

However, the 38-year-old has spoken very little on wider environmental issues, and comes as a relatively unknown quantity to many within the waste sector.

Outgoing minister Owen Paterson, who held the post since 2012, had little public involvement in waste policy issues, and the Department has actively taken a step back from the sector under his leadership.

Mr Paterson came under intense scrutiny for his handling of the flooding, badger culls and was often criticised for his views on climate change.

It is not known yet if the minister in charge of the recycling brief within Defra, Dan Rogerson, is likely to move on and there have been no rumours of a reshuffle within the Liberal Democrat ranks.