ADA attends Defra Ministers Summer Briefing

Innes Thomson attended Defra’s summer briefing reception hosted by the Secretary of State and Ministers at Nobel House on 12^th July which provided many opportunities to network with a variety of industry colleagues and politicians both known and new. As well as enjoying a catch-up with our Minister, Thérèse Coffey MP, the familiar faces included Paul Cobbing ( National Flood Forum ), Ross Murray and Helen Woolley ( CLA ), Sonia Phippard, Sarah Hendry and Neil Hornby ( Defra ), Emma Howard-Boyd and John Leyland (EA) and the new faces showing an interest in ADA’s work included Rebecca Pow MP ( Taunton Deane ), Mark Lloyd ( Angling Trust ), and Lord Gardiner ( Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity ). Michael Gove MP gave a short presentation to the assembled guests with a particular emphasis on how Defra’s work will be fundamental to shaping the environment in which we all live in the years to come, as well as emphasising the importance and opportunities associated with Britain’s capacity for food production through work with our fishing and farming industries. Various follow-up meetings have been arranged and, in particular, ADA has offered to help organise a suitable visit for Thérèse Coffey and her team to one of the demaining pilot projects currently underway and engage in more general discussions around ADA’s 7-point plan.

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