New Ministers at Defra - Separates Water and Fisheries

Ministerial responsibilities at Defra have now been announced and are as follows;

Hilary Benn: Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
overall responsibility for all Departmental issues;
represents the UK at theEU Agriculture and Fisheries Council and at the EU Environment Council; and leads for the UK in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change

Lord Rooker: Minister of State
Food and Farming
Animal Health and Welfare
Better Regulation
Agriculture and Fisheries Council Deputy
Departmental Administration

Phil Woolas: Minister of State
International Climate Change Mitigation and Energy (including Forestry)
Domestic Climate Change Mitigation and Energy
Climate Change Bill
Water (including Nitrates Directive)
Flooding
Sustainable Development
Fuel Poverty
Radioactive Waste
GMOs/Nanotechnology
Chemicals and Pesticides
Chair of Green Ministers

Joan Ruddock: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Climate Change Bill
Domestic Climate Change Adaptation
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Citizen Engagement
Environmental Transformation Fund
International Waste and Recycling
Environment Council Deputy
Sponsorship of Kew
Biodiversity
Ecosystems Services
Environmental Regulation
Domestic Forestry

Jonathan Shaw: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for theSouth East
Food and Farming - with Jeff Rooker
Animal Health and Welfare - Jeff Rooker
Marine and Fisheries
Rural Affairs
Coastal and Wider Access
Local and Regional Government (including Air Quality and Local Environment Quality)
British Waterways
National Parks
Land Management
Soils
RDPE
Landscape

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/index.htm

So water quality and fisheries are separated at Ministerial level, not very joined up!! Doubles the meetings load and briefing time. Let's just hope they all have the same policy.

Sorry to see Ben Bradshaw go. The new minister has a lot to live up to.