Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs: New Defra Secretary of State announced

Caroline Spelman MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Prime Minister, David Cameron.  Mrs Spelman is Member of Parliament for Meriden.

Caroline Spelman said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  The department is responsible for many of the things that are vital to our quality of life - the food we eat, the air we breathe and how we manage the land we live on and the seas that surround our shores.

“I will work across government and beyond to respond to the challenges of increasing food production, adapting to climate change, protecting our natural environment and ensuring we live sustainably.”

Notes to editors

1. Caroline Spelman has been the Member of Parliament for Meriden since 1997. In Opposition, she served in the Shadow Cabinet, covering the Environment, International Development and Communities and Local Government portfolios, as well as holding other senior posts.

2. Before entering Parliament, Mrs Spelman had an extensive career in the agriculture sector, with fifteen years in the agriculture industry and in-depth experience of the international arena, including as deputy director of the International Confederation of European Beet Growers and a research fellow for the Centre for European Agricultural Studies. She has also authored a book on the non-food use of agricultural products.

3. Mrs Spelman is fluent in French and German and holds a BA First Class in European Studies from Queen Mary College. She is married with three children.

Press enquiries 020 7238 5391 ; Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website
www.defra.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/DefraGovUK
Defra’s aim is sustainable development

Contacts

NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk