Following the announcement last Friday that Estelle Morris is to take over from David Blunkett as Secretary of State, two more appointments within the new Department for Education and Skills have been announced today.

Margaret Hodge takes over from Malcolm Wicks as Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education. Previously the Minister for Education and Equal Opportunities within the DfEE, Mrs Hodges' responsibilities have included the provision of free nursery places and the setting up of the Disablity Rights Commission. She will now take on responsibility for universities, adult skills, post-16 education and training.

Stephen Timms takes over from Estelle Morris as Schools Minister. Previously Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Timms was Minister of State for Social Security from January 1999 until July 1999, and Parliamentary Under Secretary, Department of Social Security, between July 1998 and January 1999. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for East Ham since 1997 and was MP for Newham North East between 1994 and 1997. Before entering Parliament he was a consultant in the telecommunications industry.

Futher news about appointments within the new Department will follow.