Emma Reynolds appointed as new Defra Secretary in Cabinet reshuffle

Following a Cabinet reshuffle after Angela Rayner’s resignation, Emma Reynolds has been appointed Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). The previous Secretary of State for Defra, Steve Reed, has been appointed as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). 

Reynolds previously served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury, being appointed on 14 January 2025, and was elected as the MP for Wycombe in July 2024. Her previous work across government has given her a background in policy, financial oversight, and governance. 

Defra’s drive for clean air 

Part of Reynolds’s new role will be to continue Defra’s work towards clean air and promoting sustainable heating practices. This includes the ongoing implementation of the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 and work with local authorities to encourage the use of cleaner fuels and efficient appliances. 

HETAS will continue to work closely with Defra to promote the cleanest, safest use of solid fuel for domestic heating, aligning with Defra’s ongoing Clean Air Strategy. Through administered schemes, such Defra’s appliance smoke control exemption and the Ready to Burn scheme for manufactured solid fuels, and industry initiatives such as Cleaner Choice certification, ongoing work from HETAS Registered Installers is kept safe and compliant – all while minimising emissions. 

What this means for industry 

This new appointment is unlikely to shift Defra’s approach towards clean air, and our work with Defra will continue and be unaffected. Installers, manufacturers, sweeps, and servicing technicians should continue their high-quality work to ensure installations are safely installed, safely maintained, and used responsibly. 

The Environmental Improvement Plan is due to have its rapid review published this year, which will guide our next steps towards cleaner air and the actions government intends to take. The daily work of HETAS and our dedicated registrants continues to drive minimised domestic combustion emissions across the UK, and this work will continue as we work towards a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment.