Acting state secretary in FIN

Mr. Bernt Sverre Mehammer (40), finance policy advisor, Oslo, has been appointed acting state secretary to Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen for the period 18 May-31 July 2009. He will replace state secretary Roger Schjerva, who has been granted leave of absence for the same period.

Bernt Sverre Mehammer comes from a post as finance policy advisor to the Socialist Left Party’s group at the Storting. He has previously been partner at Prosa AS and head of information at the Norwegian Policy Network on Alcohol and Drugs. Mehammer holds a master’s degree in economy from the University of Oslo.

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

To Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (Lab.)
Mr. Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen (Lab.)
Ms. Kjersti Markusson (Soc.)
Mr. Per Johannessønn Jordal (Cent.)
Mr. Svein Fjellheim (Lab.)              
Mr. Torbjørn Giæver Eriksen (Lab.)
Ms. Rita Skjærvik (Lab.)
Ms. Hilde Singsaas (Lab.)
Mr. Jan-Erik Larsen (Lab.)

To Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen (Soc.)
Mr. Roger Schjerva (Soc.) – leave of absence 18 May-31 July 2009
Mr. Geir Axelsen (Lab.)
Mr. Ole Morten Geving (Cent.)
Mr. Roger Østlie Sandum (Soc.)
Ms. Henriette Westhrin (Soc.)
Mr. Bernt Sverre Mehammer (Soc.) – acting 18 May-31 July 2009.

To Minister of Transport and Communications Liv Signe Navarsete (Cent.)
Mr. Erik Lahnstein (Cent.)
Ms. Hege Solbakken (Cent.) – leave of absence 29 September 2008-29 June 2009.
Ms. Guri Størvold (Cent.)
Mr. Geir Pollestad (Cent.) 

To Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre (Lab.)
Ms. Elisabeth Walaas (Lab.)
Ms. Gry Larsen (Lab.)

To Minister of Research and Higher Education Tora Aasland (Soc.)
Ms. Åsa Elvik (Soc.)

To Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa  (Cent.)
Mr. Dag-Henrik Sandbakken (Cent.)
Ms. Janne Sjelmo Nordås (Cent.) 

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

To Minister of the Environment and International Development
Erik Solheim (Soc.)
Ms. Heidi Sørensen (Soc.) – environment affairs
Mr. Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen (Soc.) – international development affairs

To Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk (Cent.)
Mr. Ola T. Heggem  (Cent.)

To Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Dag Terje Andersen (Lab.)
Mr. Jan-Erik Støstad (Lab.)
Ms. Libe S. Rieber-Mohn (Lab.)
Ms. Laila Gustavsen (Lab.)
Mr. Raimo Valle (Lab.) 

To Minister of Health and Care Services Bjarne Håkon Hanssen (Lab.)
Ms. Rigmor Aasrud (Lab.)
Mr. Dagfinn Sundsbø (Cent.)
Ms. Ellen B. Pedersen (Soc.)
Mr. Ketil Lindseth (Lab.)

To Minister of Justice and the Police Knut Storberget (Lab.)
Mr. Terje Moland Pedersen (Lab.) - leave of absence from 29 April 2009
Ms. Astri Aas-Hansen (Lab.)
Mr. Eirik Øwre Thorshaug (Lab.) - acting from 29 April 2009

To Minister of Culture and Church Affairs Trond Giske (Lab.)
Mr. Halvard Ingebrigtsen (Lab.)
Mr. Wegard Harsvik (Lab.) 

To Minister of Trade and Industry Sylvia Brustad (Lab.)
Mr. Øyvind Slåke (Lab.)
Ms. Rikke Lind (Lab.)

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

To Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen (Cent.)
Ms. Sigrid Hjørnegård (Cent.)
Mr. Robin Kåss (Lab.)

To Minister of Children and Equality Anniken Huitfeldt (Lab.)
Ms. Lotte Grepp Knutsen (Lab.)

To Minister of Education Bård Vegard Solhjell (Soc.)
Ms. Lisbet Rugtvedt (Soc.)

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