The Office of the Prime Minister has from 10 March 2004 appointed Ms. Astrid Apalset Vassbø (30), head of administration and political advisor, Stavanger, as political advisor in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. She succeeds Mr. Øyvind Håbrekke, who on 27 February this year was appointed state secretary in the same ministry.

Astri Apalset Vassbø comes from Nordfjordeid in the County of Sogn og Fjordane, and is Cand. Philol. in history, political science and development studies from the University of Oslo in 1999. She now comes from posts as head of administration in Bekkefaret Church in Stavanger, and as political advisor to Stavanger’s deputy mayor. She has formerly been youth secretary and parish secretary at Bekkefaret Church, and political advisor in the Christian Democratic Party’s women’s organisation. Ms. Vassbø has worked as a journalist on the newspaper of the Christian Democratic Party’s youth organisation, at Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s Sogn og Fjordane division and on the local newspaper Firda Tidend. She has held elected posts in the Christian Democratic Party in Oslo and in the party’s youth organisation.

The Government represents the Conservative Party (C), the Christian Democratic Party (Chr.) and the Liberal Party (Lib.). The list of political advisors now looks as follows:

Office of the Prime Minister:
Mr. Øistein Mjærum (Chr.)
Ms. Wenche Fone (Chr.) – leave of absence from 8 March 2004.
Ms. Torunn Elise Kvisberg (Chr.) – acting from 3 March 2004.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (foreign affairs):
Ms. Marit Berger (C)

Ministry of Finance:
Mr. Kaj-Martin Georgsen (C)

Ministry of Health:
Mr. Pål Christian Roland (Chr.)
Ms. Line Henriette Holten Hjemdal (Chr.)
Mr. Aksel Jakobsen (Chr.)

Ministry of Agriculture:
Ms. Alvhild Hedstein (Lib.)
Mr. Geir Olsen (Lib.)

Ministry of Justice and the Police:
Ms. Marit Helene Meyer (Lib.)

Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs:
Mr. Gjermund Løyning (Chr.)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (international development affairs):
Mr. David Hansen (Chr.)

Ministry of Petroleum and Energy:
Ms. Astrid Apalset Vassbø (Chr.)

Ministry of Children and Family Affairs:
Ms. Ruth Leonore Stenersen (Chr.)

Ministry of Education and Research:
Ms. Elisabeth Aspaker (C)

Ministry of Fisheries:
Ms. Jorhill Andreassen (C)

Ministry of Social Affairs:
Ms. Anniken Hauglie (C)

Ministry of Trade and Industry:

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Alfred Jens Bjørlo (Lib.)

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development:
Mr. Roger Iversen (C)

Ministry of Defence:
Bengt Eidem (C)

Ministry of the Environment:
Mr. Bjørn Johnny Skaar (C)

Ministry of Labour and Government Administration:
Mr. Nils Ola Widme (C)