Peter Hain announces new ministerial team
The new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon Peter Hain, today announced his Ministerial Team.
Caroline Flint and Mike O’Brien have been appointed Ministers of State.
Anne McGuire and James Plaskitt remain as Parliamentary Under Secretaries (Commons). They are joined by Barbara Follett.
Lord McKenzie of Luton will be Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords).
Peter Hain said:
“This is a top team of Ministers and I am delighted to welcome them to the Department.
“We are now enjoying record levels of employment in the United Kingdom but there is more to do if we are to tackle those pockets of long-term unemployment and achieve our goal of full employment within a generation.
“We will continue our programme of modernising and changing the welfare state so it can provide the specific help people need to lift them out of a life on benefits and back into the workplace, and eradicating child poverty.
“There is an important package of reforms to be worked on involving the pension system, benefits and the establishment of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
“However, providing the help and support that the most vulnerable in our society need and deserve will remain at the heart of what we do and I look forward to the work ahead.”
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