Design Council funding in question as Cabinet reshuffles

Gordon Brown’s Government reshuffle held a few surprises for the design world last week.

The expected revamp of the Department of Trade and Industry was duly confirmed, and it was subsequently announced that its replacement – the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform – will be headed by John Hutton.

It is still not yet known however, if DBERR will take over the role of funding the Design Council from the DTI. The council’s other possible paymaster might be the newly created Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, headed by John Denham, though a Design Council spokeswoman says neither department has yet been given confirmed responsibility.

The Brown reshuffle also sees James Purnell replacing Tessa Jowell as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Jowell takes the role of Olympics Minister.

The subordinate position of Minister for the Creative Industries and Tourism, has been axed, however, and Shaun Woodward, who held the post of creative industries minister until Thursday, has been named as Northern Ireland Secretary.

The positions of minister for culture and minister for sport were also withdrawn, though Purnell will be supported at the DCMS by the former DTI Minister of State for Industry Margaret Hodge, who takes the title Minister of State, as well as by Parliamentary Under Secretary Gerry Sutcliffe.

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