Estelle Morris, who resigned from her role as Education Secretary last year, amid controversy over academic standards, has made a surprise return to the Government as Arts Minister in the latest ministerial reshuffle.
She has replaced Baroness Blackstone and will assume responsibility for the arts, museums and galleries, cultural property, the creative industries, film, and the National Lottery. Her portfolio will also include social policy, street crime, women?s issues, green issues and science. Other responsibilities in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have also changed. Overall responsibility for DCMS business in the House of Lords now falls to Lord McIntosh of Haringey, the new Minister for Media and Heritage, and Richard Caborn, the new Minister for Sport and Tourism, will take responsibility for Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing, a responsibility previously held by
Dr. Kim Howells, the former Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting.