Ministerial role

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs

Organisations: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include:

  • ministerial lead for COVID-19 relating to Defra Issues
  • biosecurity strategy, including animal health and traceability
  • management of endemic and exotic animal diseases, including bovine TB policy
  • plant and tree health
  • invasive non-native species
  • food compositional standards and food labelling
  • food supply, security and resilience
  • rural affairs: rural productivity and connectivity, rural life opportunities (childcare, education, skills and health)
  • landscape, including National Parks and AONBs
  • access including rights of way and coastal paths
  • lead for APHA, VMD, RBG Kew and AHWBE, and relationship with the FSA

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Rory Stewart OBE

    2015 to 2016