Stephen Timms: New construction minister lined up

Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, looks “almost certain” to replace Margaret Hodge as construction minister, as a picture of how the construction industry will be administered started to emerge following Prime Minister Brown’s cabinet reshuffle.

Timms, who has been confirmed as John Hutton’s deputy at the rebranded Department of Trade and Industry (now the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), moves from the Treasury where he was chief secretary.

Housing has moved up the government agenda, with housing minister Yvette Cooper being asked to attend cabinet.

Meanwhile, Cooper’s Communities and Local Government (CLG) department, now headed by Hazel Blears, got a further boost with the arrival of another former Treasury minister, John Healey, who left his post as financial secretary.

He is thought to be taking over responsibility for local government.

But it appeared to be business as usual in other areas: CLG will continue to administer planning and the Building Regulations, and it is thought that the DTI’s rebranding will not affect the timetable for the Trade and Industry Select Committee Inquiry into construction.

It is also expected to maintain responsibility for the controversial Construction Act Review.

There was little change for the Olympics - Jowell lost her culture secretary hat, but clung on to her responsibilities for the 2012
Games, attending cabinet when needed.