Whittingdale to cover science, media briefs
April 24, 2023
By Colin Mann
Former Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Sir John Whittingdale is to act as a Minister of State jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the appointments in advance of Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Julia Lopez, Minister of State in the Department, taking maternity leave.
Whittingdale was appointed Minister of State for Media and Data in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 14 February 2020. He previously served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from May 2015 until 14 July 2016.
He had two spells in opposition as Shadow DCMS Secretary of State and one as Shadow Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry.
In July 2005, he was elected Chairman of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, a position that he held for 10 years until 2015.
Chloe Smith will serve as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.