Cameron appoints Alistair Burt as care minister

Alistair Burt has replaced Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb as the minister in charge of adult social care following the Conservative party’s general election victory.

David Cameron installed Burt, the Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, as the new care and support minister at the Department of Health. Jeremy Hunt remains as health secretary.

Children’s social care roles

There were no changes to children’s social care roles. Edward Timpson retained his position as children’s minister and Nicky Morgan remains education secretary.

Care minister Burt, who served as minister for disabled people in the last all-Conservative government until 1997 and most recently held a post in the foreign office, will face several challenges ahead. These include overseeing the introduction of the Care Act and addressing the continuing fallout of a landmark Supreme Court ruling on deprivation of liberty.

Challenges ahead

Local government leaders will also be keen to lobby the new minister to address ongoing concerns over a shortage of funding for social care.

Following his appointment, the care minister took to Twitter to express his appreciation for the role and the chance to work with “extraordinary” people within the sector.

@rmgstephenson Thanks. Deeply appreciate the role and the chance of working with extraordinary people in the sector. AB

— Alistair Burt (@AlistairBurtMP) May 11, 2015

Timpson has been children’s minister since 2012 and has sat on the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on adoption and fostering, looked after children and care leavers. He has presided over the introduction of a 26 week time limit on care proceedings, as well as wide-reaching special educational needs provision reforms.