Ministerial responsibilities at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been shaken-up, Margaret Beckett.

In order to streamline the department, the secretary of state announced that her three senior ministers will take a specific area of responsibility for the environment, farming and rural affairs in their brief.

Under the shake-up, all DEFRA ministers will now have a "sustainable development" portfolio.

Forum Response: The Woodland Trust

Dr James Cooper of the Woodland Trust told ePolitix.com: "These are welcome changes with the potential to enhance DEFRA's contribution to sustainable development although achievement of the latter requires action right across government not simply within DEFRA.

"The Woodland Trust believes it is crucial that people in urban areas should not be disenfranchised from an experience of nature. We therefore particularly welcome the clarification through the redefintion of Alun Michael's role, that the quality of the urban environment is very much a matter for DEFRA. We are also pleased to note that he has been identified as lead DEFRA Minister on Planning issues. The absence of DEFRA input to the government's recent Planning Green paper was all too evident.

"The redefinition of Michael Meacher's role as Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment is also a positive move given the range of envronmental benefits which can be achieved through the implementation of the Curry report.

"We will be looking therefore for more positive evidence overall of sustainable develpment informing government action across all these crucial policy areas."

Forum Response: National Office for Animal Health

Phil Sketchley, chief executive of the National Office of Animal Health, told ePolitix.com: "This is something we suggested when DEFRA was first established. The availability of a wide range of properly authorised animal medicines is essential to the health of pet, sporting and farm animals, and of course good health is an essential component of animal welfare. Animal medicines, including vaccines, help keep animals healthy, and if they do fall ill, are a vital tool in fighting disease.

"The licensing of animal medicines is a crucial task carried out by VMD in the UK, as without authorisation animal medicines may not be sold or used. It is a complex task involving many disciplines, including safety to the animal patient, the user, the environment and, for food animals, the consumer. It is important that the safeguard of regulation is balanced by a recognition of the need for medicines to be available to prevent and treat animal disease.

"The collection of these responsibilities under Mr Morley should improve communication, and create opportunities to discuss and resolve any differences. We look forward to working with Mr Morley in the future."