UK Names New Junior Minister

In a reshuffle of UK junior ministerial posts December 21, David Prior has been appointed a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis).

He replaces Lucy Neville-Rolfe who becomes commercial secretary at the treasury – holding the rank of minister of state. Both she and Prior are members of the House of Lords, known as Baroness Neville-Rolfe and Lord Prior of Brampton respectively.

David Prior, the new junior UK oil and gas minister (Photo credit: Parliament/House of Lords)

Prior is therefore expected to take over Neville-Rolfe’s responsibilities for the UK upstream oil and gas industry and licensing. Until now, he held a similar rank at the Department of Health. He is a farmer and landowner, was chief executive and deputy chair of the Conservative Party in 1999-2001, and was member of parliament for North Norfolk from 1997 to 2001. He lists interests in the Mideast Gulf, India, Oman and Malaysia in the House of Lords' register of interests.

There is no change in the top job at Beis: Greg Clark remains Secretary of State for Business and Energy.

Mark Smedley