Richard Benyon MP Newbury (on the K & A) was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,Defra on 14 May 2010.

Mr Benyon served as a Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Wildlife. Prior to this appointment he was a Party Whip. He has also served on the Home Affairs Select Committee.

He is a riparian landowner and farmer on the Kennett, and a former soldier and founder of the charity help for heroes. He is a vice president of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and a keen angling supporter.

NABO Chairman, David Fletcher, welcomed the appointment saying, "It must be a boost for all User Groups to have a Minister with what appears to be a sound knowledge of the Waterways. With the difficult funding issues approaching and the major changes that may take place with the structure of our Inland Waterways, I look forward to having an opportunity to make the views of Boaters heard."