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Hain promoted in Brown's cabinet | Hain promoted in Brown's cabinet |
(1 day later) | |
Peter Hain has been given a promotion by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he unveiled a raft of changes in his first cabinet. | |
Downing Street confirmed that the Neath MP will become work and pensions secretary, replacing John Hutton. | |
Mr Hain said he was also "delighted" to be continuing as Welsh secretary. | |
Mr Hain, who came fifth last weekend in the deputy Labour leadership contest, moves from the job as Northern Ireland secretary. | |
There had been speculation that Mr Hain could take over from Hilary Benn as international development secretary but that post has gone to Douglas Alexander, former transport and Scottish secretary. | There had been speculation that Mr Hain could take over from Hilary Benn as international development secretary but that post has gone to Douglas Alexander, former transport and Scottish secretary. |
Incapacity benefit | |
The Department for Work and Pensions is one of the top-spending departments in Whitehall. | The Department for Work and Pensions is one of the top-spending departments in Whitehall. |
The department - once known as the department for social security - is responsible for all sorts of benefits, from allowances paid to carers to child support, incapacity benefit and, of course, pensions. | The department - once known as the department for social security - is responsible for all sorts of benefits, from allowances paid to carers to child support, incapacity benefit and, of course, pensions. |
Welfare reform was one of the big issues Tony Blair highlighted on coming to power 10 years ago. | Welfare reform was one of the big issues Tony Blair highlighted on coming to power 10 years ago. |
His first welfare reform minister was told to "think the unthinkable" - and sacked a year later. | His first welfare reform minister was told to "think the unthinkable" - and sacked a year later. |
Among the challenges facing Mr Hain will be the government's drive to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit - a problem common in former industrial areas of Wales. | Among the challenges facing Mr Hain will be the government's drive to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit - a problem common in former industrial areas of Wales. |
It is a great honour to be asked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to continue to represent Wales in the Cabinet at such a crucial time for devolution in Wales. Peter Hain | |
He will also come under fresh pressure to improve financial assistance to the former workers at ASW in Cardiff and elsewhere who lost their pensions when their company went bust. | He will also come under fresh pressure to improve financial assistance to the former workers at ASW in Cardiff and elsewhere who lost their pensions when their company went bust. |
But one of the department's aims is to reduce poverty. Mr Hain has regularly called for the gap between rich and poor to be narrowed. | But one of the department's aims is to reduce poverty. Mr Hain has regularly called for the gap between rich and poor to be narrowed. |
The MP said he was "delighted" after a week in which his Northern Ireland job was offered to Paddy Ashdown and The Sun predicted he would be sacked. | |
Following the announcement, he said: "It is a great honour to be asked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to continue to represent Wales in the Cabinet at such a crucial time for devolution in Wales. | |
"We are entering an exciting new era for devolution in Wales. I look forward to continuing to oversee the smooth implementation of the additional powers to the Assembly through the Government of Wales Act. | |
"As secretary of state for Wales, I believe we must embrace the opportunities presented by these new law-making powers to address the challenges of our changing world. | |
"It is essential that the government in Cardiff Bay continues to work in partnership with the government in Westminster on key UK national priorities, such as the economy and climate change." |