Ben Bradshaw Parliamentary under Secretary at DEFRA

Mr Ben Bradshaw MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary

(Commons) at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

Mr Bradshaw is Minister for Nature Protection & Fisheries, and his ministerial responsibilities include:

- Biodiversity (including whales and Centre for Environment,

Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)

- Nature Conservation, SSSIs and English Nature

- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

- Forestry

- Fisheries

- Plant health, Plant Variety Rights and Seeds

- Organic Food and Farming

- Animal Health and Welfare (including Veterinary Laboratory Agency

and Veterinary Medicines Directorate)

Mr Bradshaw, 42, comes to Defra from the Privy Council Office where he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary on 29 May 2002. Previously he was Parliamentary Under- Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Mr Bradshaw was elected as MP for Exeter on 1 May 1997. Before his election he worked as a journalist, training on the Express & Echo in Exeter before working for BBC Radio Devon and going on to be the BBC's Berlin correspondent.

Born on 30 August, 1960, Mr Bradshaw was educated at Thorpe St Andrew School, Norwich and Sussex University. His policy interests include environmental issues, particularly green transport. He is a keen cyclist and enjoys walking, particularly on Dartmoor, music and cooking. He lives in Exeter and London with his partner.