News of the delayed ministerial announcement will be met with relief in the waste sector. Certain quarters had expressed frustration and anger last week that Defra had waited so long to appoint detailed briefs to its new ministers.
In a notable shift, Lord de Mauley is now responsible for pushing the UK’s resource management, rather than waste, agenda – a reflection that the sector is raising its profile as wider issues around resource efficiency rise up the political agenda.
Otherwise known as Rupert Ponsonby, Lord de Mauley’s resource management remit is a wide one and covers: climate change adaptation; environmental impacts of climate change mitigation (including biofuels); environmental regulation; sustainable consumption and production; waste management; local environment.
He will also be responsible for air quality, noise and litter, localism as well as the welfare of companion and wild animals.
A former army man, Lord de Mauley’s family has a farming background and he has been a government Whip in the Lords since 2010, as well as being government spokesman on environment, food and rural affairs issues. In opposition he held a number of briefs, including serving as shadow minister for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).
Maxine Perella