David Cameron has appointed Francis Maude (pictured) as minister for the Cabinet Office but there is no news yet on who will be given responsibility for civil society within the department.

Oliver Letwin has secured the job of minister of state in the Cabinet Office, a role that will see him providing policy advice to the Prime Minister.

An announcement is expected shortly on who will be given responsibility for the sector.  Liberal Democrat charities spokesman Jenny Willott yesterday ruled herself out of the running as she is going on maternity leave soon.

Tory incumbent Nick Hurd said he would only comment when the post has been announced.

While in opposition the Conservatives mooted the idea of turning the Office of the Third Sector into an Office for Civil Society, and most recently resurrected the prospect just before the election in a letter to sector leaders.  

Francis Maude has in the past been critical of volunteering initiative v, citing the need for a rigorous independent assessment of its effectiveness.

He has also condemned the "leisurely pace" of Labour's progress on the proposed Social Investment Wholesale Bank, and stated that the sector should be more independent of government.

Maude is also on record as saying it is essential that civil society organisations that delivered public services for the government recovered all their costs and made a return.

The full list of ministerial appointments to date can be found here.