Katie Derham’s in-depth interview this month covers a wide range of thought-provoking issues with Jeff Rooker, Minister of State for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Recorded in July 2007, the impact of damage to harvests caused by the recent unprecedented rainfall and flooding is the first topic for discussion. Whilst the full implications have yet to be assessed, Lord Rooker talks about measures being put in place to support affected farmers. Other subjects covered include genetic modification, organic farming and sustainability, both nationally and globally, with a more detailed look at Defra’s recent initiative on waste (summarised below)

Jeff Rooker was appointed Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office on 9 May 2005. He started his ministerial career in 1997 as Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In July 1999 he was Minister of State for Social Security and in 2001 became Minister of State at the Home Office in the House of Lords. He is currently Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.

At the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister he was Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Regeneration before being appointed minister for Regeneration and Regional Development on 13 June 2003.

Before entering government Jeff Rooker held a series of opposition posts. He left the House of Commons at the 2001 election, after which he was ennobled in June 2001. He had been MP for Perry Barr, Birmingham since 1974.

Prior to becoming an MP he was an apprentice engineer and a member of the Birmingham Education Committee. He was born in 1941 and educated at Aston and Warwick universities. He is a chartered engineer.

THE WASTE STRATEGY SUMMARISED

• Councils could charge households based on the amount of rubbish they produce, while households who recycle more will be financially rewarded. Any such schemes would have to be "revenue neutral" - ie there must be no overall increase in local taxes.
• Using plastic bags just once will be discouraged, and measures to cut packaging will be encouraged, with retailers expected to take on greater responsibilities. There will not be a general plastic bag tax.
• More recycling facilities in public places including shopping centres and parks.
• A new opt-out scheme for unaddressed junk mail - the current mail preference service only applies to addressed junk mail. An opt-in scheme will also be considered.
• An increased target of 40% of household waste recycled/composted by 2010, increasing to 45% by 2015 and then to 50% by 2020.
• Reducing the amount of household waste that is not re-used, recycled or composted from 22.2 million tonnes in 2000 to 15.8 million tonnes in 2010, with "an aspiration" to reduce it to 12.2 million tonnes by 2020.
• Getting more energy from waste, which involves disposing of waste which cannot sensibly be reused or recycled. Currently 10% of municipal waste is used for EfW, with a target of 25% by 2020. This will include "anaerobic digestion" of food waste and also incineration to generate power.

Further information at Defra http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/index.htm