Former Welsh Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes Alun Davies has become the new Minister for Natural Resources and Food in the Welsh cabinet reshuffle, it has been announced.
The new role will combine both Davies’s previous responsibilities for agriculture, fisheries and food along with new responsibilities that were formerly in the charge of Environment Minister John Griffiths (now Minister for Culture and Sport) including waste, environment, climate change, flood prevention and the management of Wales’s new environment body, Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
NRW will take over the functions previously carried out by the Environment Agency in Wales, alongside those of the Forestry Commission Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales on 1 April.
Speaking of the reshuffle – announced yesterday (14 March) via Twitter – First Minister of Wales, the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones said: “Alun Davies becomes Minister for Natural Resources and Food combining his previous responsibilities for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with those of the former Environment portfolio including climate change, flood prevention and the establishment of Natural Resources Wales. John Griffiths is the new Culture and Sport Minister and will also be responsible for National Parks, Walking and Cycling (including the Active Travel Bill).”
Jones went on to say that the he had made changes to the ministerial team to "underline the government’s focus on delivery and to respond to shifting priorities such as the growing pressures on family incomes" and said he was was “delighted to have such a strong and committed team who share my vision of a strong and vibrant Wales, where everyone has the opportunity for fulfil their potential”.
Tweeting about the appointment yesterday (14 March), Davies said: “Delighted to have been invited to join the Cabinet as Minister for Natural Resources and Food. Looking forward to the new challenge.”
Further details of Davies’s new portfolio have not yet been announced, but are expected to be published "over the next week or so".
The Conservatives criticised the Twitter announcements, saying: "This reshuffle has gone from digital to analogue in the space of a few hashtags.
"A #Twuffle may be embracing digital technology but the boredom set in as fast as a retweet. We should have had speedy updates and significant announcements. Instead we've had awkward silences and average changes. The deck chairs may be shuffled - bt this Labour ship is still sinking." Another spokesman added: "It has been a digital disaster."
More details to follow.
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