Angela Smith, the Prime Minister’s parliamentary private secretary and MP for Basildon, has been named as the new minister for the third sector.

Smith has also previously held positions as under secretary of state at the Department for Communities and Local Government and under secretary of state for Northern Ireland, while between 1997 and 1999 she was an officer for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Charities and the Voluntary Sector.

Her predecessor, Kevin Brennan, moves to an as yet unspecified role at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, having spent just eight months at the OTS.

Role raised to minister of state

The role of minister for the third sector has also been raised to minister of state.

Welcoming the decision, Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said this reflected “the importance of our sector”.

“This is a crucial time for voluntary and community organisations and Angela will need to work closely with us all to support civil society through these turbulent times.

“The new Minister has extensive experience of our sector and we look forward to working with her in the coming months.

“We would like to thank Kevin Brennan for his tireless work in supporting the sector and wish him well in his new role.”