In today’s session of the Council of State, the Prince Regent has transferred the department on working environment and safety from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to the Ministry of Labour and Government Administration, effective as of 1 April 2001. This follows the transfer of the responsibility for this department, from Ms. Sylvia Brustad to Mr. Jørgen Kosmo, from 1 January 2001.

The Storting yesterday approved the changes this transfer will lead to in the state budget for 2001.

As part of the transfer of the department on working environment and safety, the administrative responsibility for related legislation has today been decided transferred from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to the Ministry of Labour and Government Administration from 1 April. From the same date authority has today been delegated to the Ministry to make changes in rules, regulations, agreements and instructions, required by the transfer.

The transfer implies that the Ministry of Labour and Government Administration from 1 April will take over responsibility for services like the Work Research Institute, the Directorate of Labour Inspection, the Directorate for Fire and Explosion Prevention, the Petroleum Directorate (matters related to working environment and safety), the Directorate for Product and Electrical Safety, the Product Register and the Institute of Occupational Health.

Jens Stoltenberg’s government was appointed on 17 March 2000. It represents the Labour Party. The Government has the following members:

Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland

Minister of Defence:
Mr. Bjørn Tore Godal

Minister of Trade and Industry:
Ms. Grete Knudsen

Minister of Labour and Government Administration,
also responsible for the co-ordination of matters of Nordic co-operation,
department on working environment and safety to be added from 1 April 2001:
Mr. Jørgen Kosmo

Minister of Finance:
Mr. Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development,
department on working environment and safety to be removed from 1 April 2001:
Ms. Sylvia Brustad

Minister of Health:
Mr. Tore Tønne

Minister of Cultural Affairs:
Ms. Ellen Horn

Minister of Social Affairs,
also responsible for Ministry’s department of administration
and department of budget and economy:
Ms. Guri Ingebrigtsen

Minister of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Terje Moe Gustavsen

Minister of Fisheries:
Mr. Otto Gregussen

Minister of International Development,
also deputy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Ms. Anne Kristin Sydnes

Minister of the Environment:
Ms. Siri Bjerke

Minister of Agriculture:
Mr. Bjarne Håkon Hanssen

Minister of Justice and the Police:
Ms. Hanne Harlem

Minister of Children and Family Affairs:
Ms. Karita Bekkemellem Orheim

Minister of Petroleum and Energy:
Mr. Olav Akselsen

Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs:
Mr. Trond Giske