UK - Angela Eagle MP has become the 11th minister in charge of UK pensions, following a reshuffle of junior ministers performed in the wake of last week's cabinet reshuffle.
Rosie Winterton, who only took on the role of pensions minister in October 2008, has now been appointed as minister of state for regional economic development and co-ordination in the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. (See earlier IPE article: Cabinet shake-up sparks pensions people changes)
Eagle was previously the Exchequer Secretary to HM Treasury, a post she has held since June 2007, but has now been promoted to the junior ministerial role of pensions, which will require her to manage the upcoming 2012 reforms, among other things.
She will be working again with Yvette Cooper who was appointed secretary of state for work and pensions last week from her position as chief secretary to the Treasury, and following the resignation of James Purnell. (See earlier IPE article: Cooper to replace Purnell as pensions secretary)
The pairing, the 15th since Labour came to power in 1997, is the first time both posts have been held by women, as Harriet Harman was the only previous female secretary of state and Winterton was the first woman to take on pensions.
Following the latest changes the shortest serving pensions minister remains John Denham with a stint of six months, while Ian McCartney has the longest record between May 2001 and June 2003, although Stephen Timms has served in the post twice.
The full list of changes since 1997 are:
Date Secretary of State Minister
May 1997 Harriet Harman Frank Field (Welfare Reform)
July 1998 Alistair Darling John Denham (Minister for pensions)
Jan 1999 Alistair Darling Stephen Timms
July 1999 Alistair Darling Jeff Rooker (Pensions Minister)
May 2001 Alistair Darling Ian McCartney
May 2002 Andrew Smith Ian McCartney
June 2003 Andrew Smith Malcolm Wicks
Sept 2004 Alan Johnson Malcolm Wicks
May 2005 David Blunkett Stephen Timms (minister for pensions reform)
Nov 2005 John Hutton Stephen Timms
May 2006 John Hutton James Purnell
June 2007 Peter Hain Mike O'Brien
Jan 2008 James Purnell Mike O'Brien
Oct 2008 James Purnell Rosie Winterton
June 2009 Yvette Cooper Angela Eagle
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