North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson appointed Environment Secretary
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson has been named as Britain's new environment and farming minister, replacing Caroline Spelman in a cabinet reshuffle.
The former Northern Ireland Secretary will head the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
He was shadow minister for agriculture from October 2005 to November 2006 and had been Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, since May 2010.
As MP for north Shropshire he recently campaigned against National Grid's plans for pylons that would run through part of his constituency connecting proposed wind farms in mid-Wales to the midlands.
As head of Defra Owen Paterson is set to face a series of challenges as the department continues to adapt to the steep budget cuts agreed by Spelman.
In the short term, he will have to decide whether to proceed with controversial plans for a badger culling trial that is facing court action. During his time as Shadow Environment Secretary he supported controversial plans for a badger culling programme.
He will also oversee preparations for the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting rules, which are due to come into effect next April.
