Who are the UK’s new Cabinet Ministers?

With the recent general election and the new Labour government, new Cabinet Ministers have now been appointed. The full list of ministerial appointments can be found on the government’s website – this article examines the key ministers that relate to our industry, their voting patterns, and past work. 

As an industry-leading independent certification organisation in the biomass and solid fuel sector, we work closely with all UK governments and devolved administrations for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment. The unique position HETAS holds of ‘trusted advisor’ enables us to provide expert, trustworthy information to government, influencing legislation and setting industry benchmarks to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment. 

Angela Rayner (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) 

Angela Rayner, the Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, has been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.  

Previously called the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is responsible for policy concerning building regulations, urban renewal, planning, housing, local government, and community-focused initiatives. The MHCLG is important to our industry due to the department’s responsibility for setting and amending building regulations. 

The MHCLG also set the conditions of authorisation for competent person schemes, stipulating twenty-one points that UKAS assess scheme operators against. HETAS, as a competent person scheme operator, are closely involved with MHCLG – we undergo yearly audits and must adhere to the conditions of authorisation to retain our position.  

When assessing Angela Rayner’s voting history, her recent votes on substantial policies relating to the environment and air quality signal that there has been consistent support for measures that improve air quality and protect the environment. Angela Rayner has voted: 

• To make the priority of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency the reduction of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 (2021). 

• To reduce the carbon dioxide emission limit of new homes in the UK (2016). 

• To create a strategy for the UK’s future carbon capture and storage for the energy industry (2016). 

• To create an annually reviewed decarbonisation target for the UK (2016). 

• To support the use of biomass in former coal power stations (2018). 

• To set a limit for particulate matter under 2.5 μm in ambient air to be achieved by 2030: less than 10 μg/m³, in line with World Health Organisation Guidelines (2021). 

• To produce a Tree Strategy for England, wherein targets for new tree planting, woodland coverage, and woodland health are created (2021). 

Steve Reed (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 

Steve Reed, the Labour (Co-op) MP for Streatham and Croydon North, has been appointed as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a ministerial department with the goal and responsibility of improving, restoring, and protecting the UK’s natural environment. We work closely with Defra as their purpose encompasses air quality and emissions. HETAS is contracted by Defra, granting appliance approval and we administer Ready to Burn certification for manufactured solid fuels. In addition, our sister company, Woodsure, administers the Ready to Burn scheme for wood fuel. 

Our work towards a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment involves providing Defra – and other ministerial departments – relevant facts and statistics to inform policies. 

When assessing Steve Reed’s voting history, his recent and historic votes on policies relating to the UK’s environment and air quality display a devotion to the UK’s natural environment and air quality. Steve Reed has voted: 

• To mandate interim targets for all environmental matters (2021). 

• To set a limit for particulate matter under 2.5 μm in ambient air to be achieved by 2030: less than 10 μg/m³, in line with World Health Organisation Guidelines (2021). 

• To require public authorities to consider the UK’s net-zero commitments when granting subsidies, aiming for the benefits of a subsidy to outweigh any negative environmental effects (2021). 

• To require a ‘climate and nature emergency impact statement’ to identify necessary sustainable measures for any financial assistance proposals under a United Kingdom Internal Market Act (2020). 

• To create an annually reviewed decarbonisation target for the UK (2016). 

• To allow carbon dioxide emissions limits to be set for existing stations that have pollution reduction equipment, limiting the operation hours for stations that do not fit such equipment (2013). 

• To create a foundation to reform the energy market, aiming to reduce emissions and increase the use and generation of renewable energy (2012). 

• To create a strategy for the UK’s future carbon capture and storage for the energy industry (2016). 

• To not exempt national security and defence from having to consider environmental policy when spending (2021). 

• To make the priority of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency the reduction of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 (2021). 

• To require the Financial Conduct Authority to consider UK greenhouse gas emission reduction when setting requirements for investment firms (2021). 

• To set a target range for emissions produced per unit of electricity generated, if the electricity generation is not renewable (2013). 

Ed Miliband (Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) 

Ed Miliband, the Labour MP for Doncaster North, has been appointed as the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is a ministerial department that oversees and sets energy policy. The primary responsibilities of DESNZ are maintaining the security of the UK’s energy supply, ensuring the energy markets properly function, and utilising net zero opportunities to drive green industries. 

We work with DESNZ, with Woodsure administering the Biomass Suppliers List on behalf of DESNZ. Our commitment towards a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment aligns with the department’s ambition to drive climate action. 

When assessing Ed Miliband’s voting history, he has consistently voted for policies to protect the UK’s environment and improve air quality. Ed Miliband has voted: 

• To set a limit for particulate matter under 2.5 μm in ambient air to be achieved by 2030: less than 10 μg/m³, in line with World Health Organisation Guidelines (2021). 

• To mandate interim targets for all environmental matters (2021). 

• To create an annually reviewed decarbonisation target for the UK (2016). 

• To require any benefits arising from subsidies to outweigh the negative effects they cause to the UK’s aim of net zero emissions by 2050 (2021). 

• To create a target to halt and reverse England’s declining state of nature, no later than 2030 (2021). 

• To require all public bodies in England to consider and act in accordance with with relevant Local Nature Recovery Strategies (2021). 

• To produce a Tree Strategy for England, wherein targets for new tree planting, woodland coverage, and woodland health are created (2021). 

• To create a test for new oil and gas licenses, requiring new licenses to be tested and confirmed to not create negative effects on the climate (2024). 

• To make the priority of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency the reduction of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 (2021). 

• To not exempt national security and defence from having to consider environmental policy when spending (2021). 

• To require a ‘climate and nature emergency impact statement’ to identify necessary sustainable measures for any financial assistance proposals under a United Kingdom Internal Market Act (2020). 

• To create a strategy for the UK’s future carbon capture and storage for the energy industry (2016). 

• To set a target range for emissions produced per unit of electricity generated, if the electricity generation is not renewable (2013). 

The information provided above regarding voting records require additional scrutiny to understand the individual’s motivations. Many bills and policies are complex, so an MP’s voting record may not reveal all relevant information. Additionally, absences may or may not point towards an individual’s opinion and should be judged accordingly on a case-by-case basis. 

Further, many environmental issues cover a broad area of legislation and it is not uncommon for minor amendments to remain unopposed, meaning a vote is not cast in government. Due to this, MPs’ opinions on some policies and measures cannot be ascertained by their vote alone, but their recent voting record is still a valuable resource with which to judge their priorities. It is also important to examine each party’s vote – MPs often align to their party’s views rather than expressing their own views on a policy as their vote can be whipped. This isn’t to say that an MP’s views do not align with their party’s in these circumstances, but there are additional nuances to consider when analysing parliamentary votes. 

Future measures 

It is positive to see that these three key figures heading up these relevant departments have demonstrated their commitment to the environment through their voting records. We are optimistic that the early initiatives that have been shared will build the groundwork for the departments’ futures. Ed Miliband’s priorities, such as leading on climate action through our domestic achievements and cutting fuel poverty, and Steve Reed’s priorities for Defra, including moving Britain towards a zero-waste economy, are welcome measures that will bolster the UK’s stagnating, ineffective movement towards its environmental targets. 

HETAS is committed to working towards a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment. These new appointments bring further opportunities for progress, and we will continue to work with all UK governments and their departments, providing trusted, expert advice on how our industry can keep diligently working to minimise emissions.