Ministerial role

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for farming, food and marine environment

Organisations: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Responsibilities

The minister is responsible for farming and food, marine and fisheries, and animal health, in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Responsibilities include:

Farming and food

  • Common Agricultural Policy
  • Single Payments Scheme and the Rural Payments Agency
  • Food policy, trade and exports
  • Better regulation
  • Climate change mitigation in the agriculture sector
  • Gangmasters’ licensing and agricultural workers
  • Rural Development Programme for England
  • Deputising for the Secretary of State at EU Agriculture Council

Marine and fisheries

  • Fisheries, including Common Fisheries Policy
  • Marine environment (including Marine and Coastal Access Act implementation and Marine Management Organisation)
  • Deputising for the Secretary of State at EU Fisheries Council

Animal health

  • Management of endemic and exotic diseases (including bovine TB)
  • Animal Health and Welfare Board for England
  • Welfare of farm animals
  • Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency
  • Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Commons handling of Lords portfolio

  • Biodiversity (domestic and international, including international forestry)
  • Land management and soil (including commons and contaminated land)
  • National parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty
  • Ecosystem services
  • Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  • Wildlife management
  • Welfare of companion and wild animals (including circuses, dangerous dogs and zoos)

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon George Eustice MP

    2013 to 2015