DEFRA Ministerial Line-Up July 19, 2016 12:00 am The DEFRA ministerial line-up has been confirmed. As previously reported Andrea Leadsom will head up the Department as the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. George Eustice remains in post, responsible for food, farming and the marine environment. Mr Eustice’s status has been upgraded; previously an Undersecretary of State he is now a Minister of State. This may well be a reflection on DEFRA’s enhanced status in a post-Brexit world. The views of Mr Eustice could well be important in setting the future direction of Government policy in areas such as farm support. A new face at DEFRA is Therese Coffey, the MP for the Suffolk Coastal constituency. She has been made Parliamentary Under Secretary, replacing Rory Stewart, her responsibilities are likely to be the natural environment, including flooding. Lord Gardiner of Kimble completes theline-up, he is the DEFRA spokesman in the House of Lords. His responsibilities include biosecurity strategy, commercial projects, the landscape and climate change adaptation.
