In today’s session of the Council of State, the King has as of today at noon honourably discharged Mr. André Støylen from the post as state secretary in the Ministry of the Environment. At the same time Mr. Lars Jacob Hiim (31), head of secretariat, Hønefoss, has been appointed state secretary in the Ministry of the Environment as of noon today.

The King has today also appointed Mr. Jan Otto Risebrobakken, political advisor in the Ministry of Social Affairs, as state secretary in the same ministry as of 1 January 2003. He will succeed Mr. Osmund Kaldheim, who on 6 December was appointed state secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Government Administration as of 1 January.

Mr. Lars Jacob Hiim comes from the post as head of the Conservative Party’s secretariat at the Storting (Parliament). He has also been political advisor there. Mr. Hiim comes from Ringerike in the County of Buskerud, and is cand. jur. (candidatus juris) from the University of Oslo in 1996.

The list of state secretaries now looks as below. The Government represents the Conservative Party (C), the Christian Democratic Party (Chr.) and the Liberal Party (Lib.)

Office of the Prime Minister:
Ms. Kari Husøy (Chr.)
Mr. Eirik Moen (C)
Mr. Gunnar Kvassheim (Lib.)
Mr. Odd Jostein Sæter (Chr.)
Mr. Gunnar Husan (Chr.)
Ms. Siv Nordrum (Chr.)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Kim Traavik (C)
Ms. Elsbeth Tronstad (C)
Mr. Vidar Helgesen (C)

Ministry of Finance:
Mr. Øystein Børmer (C)
Ms. Kari Elisabeth Olrud Moen (C)
Mr. Knut Arild Hareide (Chr.)

Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs:
Revd. Berit Øksnes Gjerløw (Chr.)
Mr. Yngve Slettholm (Chr.)

Ministry of Agriculture:
Mr. Leif Helge Kongshaug (Lib.)

Ministry of Justice and the Police:
Major General Jørn Holme (Lib.)
Ms. Rita Sletner (Lib.)

Ministry of Health:
Ms. Kristin Ravnanger (Chr.)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (international development affairs):
Mr. Olav Kjørven (Chr.)

Ministry of Petroleum and Energy:
Ms. Brit Skjelbred (Chr.)

Ministry of Children and Family Affairs:
Mr. Odd Anders With (Chr.)

Ministry of Education and Research:
Mr. Bjørn Haugstad (C)
Mr. Helge Ole Bergesen (C)

Ministry of Fisheries:
Thorhild Widvey (C)

Ministry of Labour and Government Administration:
Mr. Lars Arne Ryssdal (C)
Ms. Christine Benedichte Meyer (C) – until 17 January 2003
Mr. Osmund Kaldheim (C) – from 1 January 2003

Ministry of Social Affairs:
Mr. Osmund Kaldheim (C) – until 31 December 2002
Mr. Jan Otto Risebrobakken (C) – from 1 January 2003

Ministry of Trade and Industry:
Ms. Helle Hammer (C)
Mr. Oluf Ulseth (C)

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Arnfinn Torbjørn Ellingsen (Lib.)

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development:
Ms. Kristin Ørmen Johnsen (C)
Mr. Morten Andreas Meyer (C)
Mr. Anders Johan Henrik Eira (C)

Ministry of Defence:
Mr. Gunnar Heløe (C)

Ministry of the Environment:
Mr. Lars Jacob Hiim (C)