As the new ministers settle in at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Richard Harbord questions whether the team under Michael Gove have the appropriate experience.
The ministerial team at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has now been finalised, with several new additions as well as changing responsibilities for existing ministers. So who are they and do they have the qualities needed?
We already knew that Michael Gove had returned as secretary of state. In addition, he has been appointed minister for intergovernmental relations. Gove had previously been the secretary of state between 15 September 2021 and 6 July 2022.
Gove is a highly intelligent and capable member of the Cabinet with broad experience He has been an MP since 2005, with his career in government commencing in May 2010 as secretary of state for education.
The post of minister for intergovernmental relations was previously held by Nadhim Zahawi. It was a new post in 2022 and there is little information available about the duties involved.
Lee Rowley who was a junior minister for housing and homelessness has been moved to minister of state for local government and building safety. He answered questions on levelling up in parliament on 9 November. He has been a councillor for Westminster and represents North East Derbyshire.
Rowley said in a recent interview that DLUHC ministers would be very keen to support local government but would be constrained by the economic position.
Five housing ministers in one year
Lucy Frazer has been appointed minister for housing and planning, the 14th housing minister since 2010 and the fifth in 2022. She is a KC and started her ministerial career as solicitor general in 2019. Since then Frazer has held posts in the justice and transport departments and was financial secretary to the Treasury between September 2021 and 2022. Frazer is MP for South East Cambridgeshire and has been an MP since 2015.
Felicity Buchan has taken over from Lee Rowley as junior minister for housing and homelessness. The MP for Kensington, she was previously exchequer secretary to the Treasury from 7 September 2022 to 28 October 2022. Buchan has been an MP since 2019.
Two ministers have retained their existing roles. Dehenna Davison continues as junior minister for levelling up and Baroness Scott of Bybrook retains the brief for faith and communities.
The difficulty is that there is now a huge backlog in government and still around 50 completed consultations affecting local government that are still awaiting a response.
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Inexperienced team
The team below Gove is very inexperienced in the sector. However, two have Treasury experience, which may or may not be helpful.
The difficulty is that there is now a huge backlog in government and there are still around 50 completed consultations affecting local government that are awaiting a response. And, of course, there is the Autumn Statement to come.
There seems to be little understanding of the great uncertainty the public sector has about its future. Budgets are now well advanced, but with no hint of the settlement or real financial position.
Richard Harbord is the former chief executive of Boston, Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham councils.
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