Lord Kamall is no longer minister for civil society, though DCMS has yet to confirm who will take over the brief.
It was only in September that Lord Kamall was appointed minister for civil society, after Nigel Huddleston was moved from his role after less than a year in the post, as part of Liz Truss’ reshuffle.
After replacing Liz Truss as prime minister last Tuesday, Rishi Sunak began appointing ministers to his government.
A new minister for development has been announced, as has a new charity tax minister.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state at DCMS on 30 October 2022, but the department has yet to confirm whether he would become minister for civil society.
He was a Lord in Waiting between 14 February 2020 and 20 September 2022.
Charities welcome development minister
Andrew Mitchell MP was appointed minister of state (minister for development) in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 25 October 2022.
He was previously secretary of state for International Development from May 2010 to September 2012, and recently criticised the merging of the DFID with the foreign office as a “big mistake” as it leads to a lack of expertise when tackling issues of foreign aid.
Mitchell has also said ending the pause on the FCDO’s spending on Official Development Assistance (ODA) “as soon as possible” and “returning certainty” to ODA spending “this year and in future years” is a priority.
The news came in correspondence from the newly appointed mnister, with the chair of the International Development Committee, Sarah Champion MP.
He wrote to notify the chair that the FCDO’s temporary pause on non-essential ODA spending will be extended to November 17, to work with HM Treasury’s revised timetable for the Autumn Statement.
Simon Starling, director of policy, advocacy & research at Bond, said: “We welcome Andrew Mitchell back to the job and cause that he has passionately continued to advocate for since his first tenure as development secretary – a UK aid budget that is both sufficient in quantity and goes to people facing poverty, conflict, and climate change.
“We hope, under his leadership, we will see a much-needed rapid return to 0.7% and a UK aid budget that is effective, transparent, and accountable to both the British taxpayer and the communities we work with.We are looking forward to continuing to work with him on these critical issues.”
New charity tax minister
Meanwhile, James Cartlidge was appointed as exchequer secretary to the Treasury, which will give him responsibility for charity tax issues.
Suffolk South MP and former justice minister Cartlidge took over from Felicity Buchan, who had been in post for one month, on Friday.
Charity Tax Group chair Richard Bray said the organisation would work “engage constructively” with Cartlidge.
“At a time of unprecedented fiscal pressure on charities we will lobby for a tax system that helps charities rather than hinders them,” he said.
“This includes the Future of Gift Aid project to make Gift Aid fit for purpose in the digital age. We also encourage the minister to support the charities during the cost of living crisis and beyond by introducing a lower rate of VAT for charities on their purchases.”
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