In today's session of the Council of State the following state secretary changes were made:

• Mr. Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen, Member of Parliament, has been appointed as state secretary to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. He takes over as chief of staff after Mr. Lars Erik Flatø, who has been honourably discharged from the office.
• Ms. Hilde Singsaas, acting state secretary, has been appointed as state secretary to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Singsaas has been acting state secretary since 17 March 2006, during Ms. Rita Skjærvik's leave of absence. Skjærvik is now back as state secretary to the Prime Minister.
• Ms. Krishna Chudasama, state secretary to the Minister of Children and Equality, has been honourably discharged from the office.

The Government represents the Labour Party (Lab.), the Socialist Left Party (Soc.) and the Centre Party (Cent.). The list of state secretaries now looks as follows:

To Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (Lab.)
Mr. Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen (Lab.)
Mr. Bård Vegar Solhjell (Soc.)
Ms. Hege Solbakken (Cent.)
Mr. Svein Fjellheim (Lab.)
Mr. Morten Wetland (Lab.)
Mr. Torbjørn Giæver Eriksen (Lab.)
Ms. Rita Skjærvik (Lab.)
Ms. Hilde Singsaas (Lab.)

To Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen (Soc.)
Mr. Roger Schjerva (Soc.)
Mr. Geir Axelsen (Lab.)
Mr. Bjørn Arild Gram (Cent.)
Mr. Roger Østlie Sandum (Soc.)
Ms. Kjersti Markusson (Soc.)

To Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Åslaug Haga (Cent.)
Mr. Inge Bartnes (Cent.)
Ms. Guri Størvold (Cent.)
Mr. Dag-Henrik Sandbakken (Cent.)

To Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre (Lab.)
Ms. Liv Monica Bargem Stubholt (Cent.)
Mr. Raymond Johansen (Lab.)

To Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen (Lab.)
Mr. Espen Barth Eide (Lab.)

To Minister of the Environment Helen Bjørnøy (Soc.)
Ms. Henriette Westhrin (Soc.)

To Minister of Petroleum and Energy Odd Roger Enoksen (Cent.)
Ms. Anita Utseth (Cent.)

To Minister of Development Cooperation Erik Solheim (Soc.)
Ms. Anne Margareth Fagertun Stenhammer (Soc.)

To Minister of Trade and Industry Dag Terje Andersen (Lab.)
Mr. Frode Berge (Lab.)

To Minister of Transport and Communications Liv Signe Navarsete (Cent.)
Mr. Steinulf Tungesvik (Cent.) – leave of absence from 17 October 2006.
Mr. Erik Lahnstein (Cent.) – acting state secretary 17 October-15 December 2006.

To Minister of Edication and Research Øystein Djupedal (Soc.)
Ms. Lisbet Rugtvedt Oslo (Soc.)
Mr. Per Botolf Maurseth (Soc.)

To Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Bjarne Håkon Hanssen (Lab.)
Mr. Jan-Erik Støstad (Lab. )
Ms. Libe S. Rieber-Mohn (Lab.)
Ms. Laila Gustavsen (Lab.)
Ms. Berit Oskal Eira (Lab.)

To Minister of Justice Knut Storberget (Lab.)
Mr. Terje Moland Pedersen (Lab.)
Ms. Anne Rygh Pedersen (Lab.)

To Minister of Children and Equality Karita Bekkemellem (Lab.)
Mr. Kjell Erik Øie (Lab.)

To Minister of Culture and Church Affairs Trond Giske (Lab.)
Ms. Randi Øverland (Lab.)
Ms. Mette Gundersen (Lab.) – leave of absence 1 October 2006-3 June 2007
Mr. Halvard Ingebrigtsen (Lab.) – acting 12 october 2006-3 June 2007

To Minister of Health and Care Services Sylvia Brustad (Lab.)
Ms. Rigmor Aasrud (Lab.)
Mr. Wegard Harsvik (Lab.)
Mr. Arvid Libak (Lab.)

To Minister of Government Administration and Reform Heidi Grande Røys (Soc.)
Ms. Wenche Lyngholm (Soc.)

To Minister of Agriculture and Food Terje Riis-Johansen (Cent.)
Mr. Ola T. Heggem (Cent.)

To Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Helga Pedersen (Lab.)
Mr. Vidar Ulriksen (Lab.)