In today’s session of the Council of State, the Prince Regent has appointed Mr. Bård Glad Pedersen (27), political advisor, Oslo, as state secretary in the Ministry of Defence from 1 January 2004. At the same time Mr. Gunnar Heløe has been honourably discharged from the office as state secretary in the said ministry from 31 December 2003.

Bård Glad Pedersen comes from the post as political advisor in the Ministry of Defence. He is Master of Science in Business from Bodø University College, and has worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and been acting country secretary of Nordland Conservative Party. He has held central posts in the Young Conservatives of Norway, and has since 1999 represented the Conservative Party in Nordland County Council.

The list of state secretaries from 1 January 2004 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)
Mr. Vidar Helgesen (C)
Ms. Thorhild Widwey (C)

Ministry of Finance:
Mr. Øystein Børmer (C)
Ms. Kari Elisabeth Olrud Moen (C)
Mr. Harald Solberg (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. Hans Olav Syversen (Chr.)

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

Ministry of Fisheries:
Ms. Janne Johnsen (C)

Ministry of Labour and Government Administration:
Mr. Lars Arne Ryssdal (C)
Mr. Osmund Kaldheim (C)

Ministry of Social Affairs:
Mr. Jan Otto Risebrobakken (C)

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. Anders Johan Henrik Eira (C)
Mr. Frank Jenssen (C)

Ministry of Defence:
Mr. Bård Glad Pedersen (C)

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