Air quality minister Coffey returns to Defra

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has welcomed back Thérèse Coffey to her post as parliamentary under secretary of state.

Dr Coffey returns after recovering from a “period of illness” during which David Rutland, co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), became a “temporary” Defra minister and took on her portfolio.

Defra minister Therese Coffey

A spokesman for Defra said yesterday (5 July): “We are pleased to say Minister Coffey has recovered from a period of illness and is now back to work.”

Dr Coffey was appointed as parliamentary under secretary of state for Defra almost two years ago on 17 July 2016. Prior to this, she served as deputy leader of the house of commons between May 2015 and July 2016. She was also elected as the Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal in May 2010.

Other posts held by Ms Coffey include working on the Culture, Media and Sports Committee until she was employed as parliamentary private secretary to Michael Fallon, minister for business and energy.