Prime Minister (Sir ): I am making this statement
to bring to the House's attention the following Machinery of
Government changes.
On 10 July the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities was renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and
Local Government.
I am today announcing the following further changes to the
Machinery of Government.
First, responsibility for the United Kingdom's relationship with
the European Union, including co-chairing the Ministerial
structures under the UK's treaties with the European Union​ will
move from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to the
Cabinet Office. This change will allow the Paymaster General as
Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations to
drive the Government's European Union agenda, overseeing the
existing relationship, and leading the cross-government work to
deepen this relationship in the future. The Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Office remains responsible for bilateral
relationships, Gibraltar negotiations and Europe strategy using
the department's diplomatic expertise.
Second, the Office for Veterans' Affairs will move from the
Cabinet Office to the Ministry of Defence. This change will
enable the Minister for Veterans and People to have complete
oversight for the entirety of service life; from training to
veterans working with all government departments to deliver for
our service personnel.
Third, the Government Digital Service, the Central Digital and
Data Office, and the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence will
move from the Cabinet Office to the Department for Science,
Innovation and Technology. This change will embed the delivery of
digital services and levers to drive public and private sector
innovation within a single department. Working closely with the
Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, the Department for Science,
Innovation and Technology will be the digital centre of
government.
Fourth, the Government Car Service will move from the Department
for Transport to the Cabinet Office. This change will better
align the Government Car Service with other centrally-provided
protective security services for ministers and support end-to-end
provision of executive protective security.
The four additional Machinery of Government changes outlined
above will take effect immediately.
