The government has cut the number of ministers at Defra to three.

The announcement was made when Lord Gardiner of Kimble replaced Lord de Mauley as the department’s representative in the House of Lords. However, whereas Lord de Mauley also had ministerial duties at the department, Lord Gardiner will not.

Returning secretary of state Liz Truss and minister George Eustice have been joined by under-secretary Rory Stewart.

The announcement of Lord de Mauley’s departure was made on Tuesday. His replacement, Lord Gardiner is a partner on his farm in Buckinghamshire, and serves as deputy chief executive of the Countryside Alliance. he chaired the Vale of Aylesbury Hunt between 1992 and 2006.