Mr Davies’ predecessor in the role John Griffiths has taken over responsibility for environment policy, but it is not yet known whether this will be a permanent appointment.
Responsibility for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been given to Edwina Hart in addition to her existing responsibilities as Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology & Science. Rebecca Evans will become Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
The departure of Mr Davies follows revelations that he requested private financial information about senior Assembly Member opposition members.
Mr Davies was asked to leave the Government by First Minister Carwyn Jones, who called the requests poorly judged and inappropriate.
Mr Davies, who is Labour Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent, was appointed to the position of minister for Natural Resources and Food as part of a cabinet reshuffle in March 2013, replacing John Griffiths in the role.
During his time as minister, Mr Davies has seen Wales increase its recycling rate past the Welsh Governments 52% target, launched a consultation on draft guidance for separate collections, and unveiled the Welsh Governments waste prevention programme (see letsrecycle.com story).
Only this week, the minister launched the Welsh Governments latest recycling end destinations report and hailed his commitment to the circular economy (see letsrecycle.com story).
The revelation comes less than 24 hours before the Welsh Government and LARAC conference for local authorities in Powys, which looks at the issues facing Welsh councils in the wake of targets.
An email exchange between Mr Davies and members of his staff dated July 2 reveal that the minister for natural resources and food had asked to see P1 and P2 payment schedules of five senior Assembly members.
These names included Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, Antoinette Sandbach, William Powell, and Plaid Cymrus Llyr Gruffydd.
In a separate email sent on Friday (July 4), Mr Davies private secretary argued that it was not appropriate to have this information as it was not technically in the public domain. However, the minister had repeated his request verbally.
In a statement issued today, the First Minister said he made his decision to fire Mr Davies with some regret, given his contribution to government work but said his behaviour had been unacceptable.
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Mr Jones said: In recent days communications between the Minister for Natural and Resources and Food and civil servants in his division have been drawn to my attention.
I believe that these requests were poorly judged, inappropriate and the fact that they were made at all is unacceptable to me as First Minister. As a result, I have asked the Minister for Natural Resources and Food to leave the government.
I made this decision with some regret and would like to record my appreciation for the contribution that Alun Davies has undoubtedly made to the work of the government during his time in office.
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