^{Date:               13 October 2008
Embargo:       None}

ESA welcomes new waste minister: Full details of changes to ministerial appointments and party Spokespeople

The full set of Ministerial appointments has become clear after the recent Government reshuffle in which a new Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was established. Commenting at the time on this reshuffle ESA Chief Executive Dirk Hazell said:

“ESA welcomes any restructuring of the Government which better co-ordinates and focuses on cutting fossil fuel emissions.”

As part of these appointments, ESA welcomes Jane Davidson, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, who has taken over from Joan Ruddock responsibility for waste matters, as a new Defra Minister of State in Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Joan Ruddock has moved across to become Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in DECC. The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn remains as Secretary of State for Defra. Ed Miliband is the first Secretary of State for DECC.

In the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), Ian Pearson takes over responsibility for Sustainable development and regulation, including waste electrical and electronic equipment issues. He joins the new Secretary of State, the newly enobled Rt. Hon. Peter Mandelson.