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. 

Woodsure will continue to work closely with Defra to ensure households have access to high-quality, safe-to-burn fuels that meet the requirements of the Ready to Burn scheme and can continue to burn responsibly. 

As the UK’s only wood fuel quality assurance scheme, Woodsure helps reduce emissions and is uniquely positioned to administer both the Ready to Burn scheme for wood fuel and the Biomass Suppliers List, supporting Defra’s clean air objectives. Alongside fuel quality certification, Woodsure provides education and guidance to suppliers and consumers, ensuring that fuel quality remains central to sustainable heating practices. 

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. 

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. Woodsure remains committed to working with Defra to minimise emissions from domestic burning through fuel certification, supplier support, and consumer education, helping the UK move towards a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment.