Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP

Contents

Biography

Owen Paterson was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2012. He is the Conservative MP for North Shropshire.

Education

Owen was educated at Radley College, Abingdon and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge where he studied history.

Political career

Owen held several posts while in opposition, including Shadow Minister for Transport from 2005 to 2007 and Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2010. He was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from May 2010 to September 2012.

Career outside politics

He joined the British Leather Company in 1979, becoming Sales Director in 1983 and Managing Director in 1993.

Personal life

Owen is married with 3 children.

Department
for Environment
Food & Rural Affairs

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Responsibilities include:

• EU and international relations
• emergencies
• climate change
• Common Agricultural Policy reform
• biodiversity

More about this role

Previous roles in government

1. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

   • 2010 to 2012

Policies

under the responsibility of The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

1. Encouraging businesses to manage their impact on the environment

   • 3 March 2014

2. Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy to ensure a fair deal for farmers, consumers and taxpayers

   • 26 February 2014

3. Adapting to climate change

   • 25 February 2014

4. Stimulating economic growth in rural areas

   • 14 February 2014

5. Reducing and managing waste

   • 12 February 2014

6. Protecting and sustainably using the marine environment

   • 8 January 2014

7. Making sustainable development a part of all government policy and operations

   • 18 December 2013

8. Reforming and managing marine fisheries for a prosperous fishing industry and a healthy marine environment

   • 11 December 2013

9. Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems at home and abroad

   • 3 December 2013

10. Protecting animal health and preventing disease, including in trade

    • 13 November 2013

View all policies

Announcements

by The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP

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1. New action plan to protect Somerset from flooding

   • 6 March 2014
   • Press release

2. Statement on Owen Paterson

   • 5 February 2014
   • Press release

3. Owen Paterson speech to British Retail Consortium

   • 29 January 2014
   • Speech

4. Owen Paterson speech at EuropaBio

   • 22 January 2014
   • Speech

5. Andrew Sells Appointed Chairman of Natural England

   • 9 January 2014
   • Press release

6. Cuts to red tape to save farmers and taxpayers £70 million

   • 7 January 2014
   • Press release

7. Opportunity in agriculture

   • 7 January 2014
   • Speech

8. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson flooding update

   • 2 January 2014
   • News story

9. UK boosts fight against illegal wildlife trade

   • 23 December 2013
   • Press release

10. Implementation of CAP announced

    • 19 December 2013
    • Press release

View all announcements

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