Published 17/10/2013

Defra has confirmed that Cornish Conservative MP George Eustice will be Parliamentary Under Secretary of State responsible for farming and food, marine and fisheries, and animal health. The announcement comes following a cabinet reshuffle which took place on Monday 7th October.

Dil Peeling, Director of Campaigns at Compassion says: "We wait with bated breath to see how the minister will respond to the unfinished business that waits in his in-tray. The government has yet to take decisive action to end cruel live exports, to insist that the UK pig sector complies with welfare laws and to show true leadership in Europe to protect our farm animals from avoidable suffering. All eyes are on him."

Eustice has been MP for Camborne and Redruth in Cornwall since May 2010. He has served as a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee since 2010 working on issues including water poverty in rural areas and dangerous dog legislation. His political interests include rural affairs, the Common Fisheries Policy and food security.

Compassion, like several other organisations, was originally informed that Dan Rogerson MP would take this brief. However Mr Rogerson is now Parliamentary Under Secretary of State responsible for water resource, environmental management, rural affairs and forestry.