MP Gillian Keegan appointed to new role in government reshuffle

Chichester’s MP has been appointed to a new role in this week’s government reshuffle.
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Gillian Keegan has served as minister for apprenticeships and skills since February 2020.

But she now moves from the Department for Education to the Department of Health and Social Care.

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Under Secretary of State Sajid Javid, she will serve as minister of state for care and mental health.

Chichester MP Gillian Keegan SUS-201119-152055003Chichester MP Gillian Keegan SUS-201119-152055003
Chichester MP Gillian Keegan SUS-201119-152055003

She said: “I am honoured to have been asked by The Prime Minister to join the Department for Health and Social Care, as the Minister of State for Care and Mental Health. There are significant challenges ahead and I am looking forward to working closely with Sajid Javid and the team to get stuck in.”

She will lead on the following:

• Adult social care

• Health and care integration

• DDementia, disabilities and long-term conditions

• NHS Continuing Healthcare

• Mental health

• Suicide prevention and crisis prevention

• Offender health

• Vulnerable groups

• Women’s health strategy

• Bereavement

The MP also reflected on her time in the Department for Education saying: “It has been an incredible privilege to serve as the Apprenticeships and Skills Minister over the past 20 months, working to level up opportunities across the country. It has been wonderful to work with so many exceptional teachers, colleges, learning providers, businesses and most of all students. I am hugely grateful to all the Department for Education for their support, especially my private office team. There’s a huge amount of exciting work ongoing in the DfE- I wish Nadhim Zahawi and his team all the best as they continue improving our education system.”

As well as Mr Zahawi taking over from Gavin Williamson at the DfE, long-time schools minister Nick Gibb has also left the department.

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Other big changes in the reshuffle saw Liz Truss replace Dominic Raab as Foreign Secretary, who in turn becomes Justice Secretary.

Ms Keegan will have plenty of challenges to look forward to in her new role.

Last week the government announced reforms to how people will pay for adult social care to be funded through a new health and social care levy. This will see National Insurance contributions rise from next year.