Ministerial reshuffle also sees building regulations minister Don Foster leave role to become Liberal Democrat chief whip

Greg Clark

Source: James Royall

Treasury minister Greg Clark will replace Chloe Smith as Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for construction, as part of a ministerial reshuffle.

Greg Clark was previously planning minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government and oversaw the development of the government’s planning reforms.

Smith had been the minister with responsibility for construction within the Cabinet Office, with her remit including BIM and procurement.

Her role will now be taken by Clark.

Meanwhile, Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) minister Don Foster, who has responsibility for building regulations, has been moved out of Eland House and will take the role of Liberal Democrat chief whip.

Foster had replaced Andrew Stunell in the role as part of the last cabinet reshuffle in September last year.

It is not clear yet who will replace Foster in his DCLG role.

Smith had been in the role for a year after she moved from the Treasury.

She said she would now focus on her responsibilities as MP for Norwich North.

She said: “I was only 27 when I was lucky enough to be elected to parliament and I want to use this experience to communicate with a new generation of younger voters about public participation and the Conservative message.”

The announcement comes ahead of a wider ministerial reshuffle this week.

On Friday, transport minister Simon Burns resigned to launch a bid to become a deputy commons speaker, while deputy chief whip John Randall resigned on Sunday.