Environment secretary Thérèse Coffey has finalised Rebecca Pow’s responsibilities as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defra. The role – Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience – was given to Pow last month (28 October) but her responsibilities were not immediately clear. It has now been confirmed that Pow will be responsible for waste and resources alongside floods, water, air quality and noise, and environment regulation.
Pow replaces Trudy Harrison who was made a Minister for Defra in September. Harrison will continue in the position with responsibilities for the natural environment, wildlife and land use.
Pow was previously involved with Defra as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State from September 2019 to July 2022 when she stepped down in protest against Boris Johnson’s leadership. In this role, she was also responsible for waste and resources.
Michael Gove, who introduced a series of waste reforms during his time as environment secretary, called Pow ‘a powerful champion for the environment’.
During her time as Resources and Waste Minister, Pow saw the reintroduction of the Environment Bill to Parliament which replaced EU environmental legislation following Brexit. The legislation included legally-binding targets and commitments to ban the export of plastic waste to developing countries. The Bill was brought into full operation in January this year.
Pow is MP for Taunton Deane in Somerset. She was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from May to September 2019.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.