The new secretary of state for work and pensions, James Purnell, has announced his ministerial team.   

Stephen Timms will join the department as minister of employment and welfare reform. Mike O’Brien remains minister for pensions reform, Anne McGuire and James Plaskitt remain as parliamentary under secretaries (Commons).

Purnell says: “My aspirations are to ensure everyone has the chance to be self-reliant in old age, and to make work the right - and the responsibility - of everyone who is capable of it.”