Well, wasn't that an exciting, jaw-dropping General Election, and now the hard work begins. The reshuffled Defra ministerial team has been put in place to deliver and implement the new government's policy. The team comprises Liz Truss, George Eustice and Lord de Mauley, who are continuing in their roles as environment secretary, Defra minister and junior minister respectively, as well as Rory Stewart, the new junior minister. All well and good. The only problem is the heavy slant towards the agricultural side at a time when there is a lot to be done in the grand water scheme of things - for instance, issues with implementing the Water Framework Directive; the opening up of the retail water supply market for commercial users. Let's not forget either all the work that needs to done to improve and maintain the country's flood defences. Truss' responsibilities include common agricultural reform and biodiversity; Eustice comes from a farming background; and Stewart has made a point of focusing on rural; and upland farming policy.
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