DMA poised to meet MP

by Claire Foss, Marketing Direct 26-Jul-07

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) will push its desire to preserve opt-in for direct mail when it meets Joan Ruddock, the new minister for climate change, biodiversity and waste, for the first time this month.

Ruddock, MP for Lewisham and Deptford, reports to Hilary Benn, the new Cabinet minister for the Environment and successor to David Miliband.

"We aim to convince Ruddock that we are a responsible industry that contributes to the economy," said James Kelly, managing director at the DMA.

Ruddock has a history of activism, chairing CND in the early 1980s.

Mark Roy, chief executive of The REaD Group and chair of a DMA working party dealing with the environment, welcomed Ruddock's appointment, but said the industry must be proactive in its attitude to the environment or risk being legislated against.