James has been appointed as a Minister at the Department of Health & Social Care today, as part of a Government reshuffle by the Prime Minister.
His official title will be ‘Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Primary Care and Patient Safety’, and he replaces Maria Caulfield MP who was appointed to a Minister of State role as part of the reshuffle.
The role is James’s fourth in Boris Johnson’s Government, following three positions in the Whips’ Office where he has been responsible for party discipline and helping the Government get its legislation passed. James also served at the Department of Health, as it was known at the time, between 2016 and 2017 when he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then-Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt MP.
“I was honoured to be appointed to this role in the Department of Health & Social Care, working alongside our new Secretary of State Stephen Barclay MP and other colleagues", said James. "We are putting record levels of investment into our NHS and our care services, as we help them bounce back from the challenges of the pandemic.
“During my time as an MP I have had the privilege of meeting many staff in these sectors, and I know from personal experiences too just how dedicated they are to making patient’s lives better. I’m looking forward to meeting many more staff in my new role.
“I have enjoyed my time in the Government Whip’s Office over the last three years. Whilst it has not been without challenges at times, we have helped to put legislation on the agenda that helps fulfil the manifesto we were elected on in 2019. It has also been a great honour to serve as Vice Chamberlain of HM Household too, particularly in this significant year for the Queen as she became the first monarch to reach a Platinum Jubilee.
“In addition to my new responsibilities I will continue to work hard for everyone across Halesowen & Rowley Regis and ensure that our constituency is a great place to live, work, do business and raise a family.”
A full list of the Ministerial appointments made by the Prime Minister during the reshuffle are available at www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2022
