In today's session of the Council of State the King has appointed Mr. Per Botolf Maurseth (37), senior research officer, Oslo, as state secretary to Minister of Education and Research Øystein Djupedal as of 4 September. Mr. Maurseth will succeed Mr. Åge Roald Rosnes, who from 3 September has been honourably discharged from the office.

Per Maurseth comes from a post as senior research officer and head of the department of international economics at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). He holds the degrees of Cand. Oecon. and Dr. Polit. in social economics fram the University of Oslo, and has been employed at NUPI since 1996. He is member of the Socialist Left Party's international committee, and has earlier been member of the national and the central board of the party's youth movement.

The Government represents the Labour Party (Lab.), the Socialist Left Party (Soc.) and the Centre Party (Cent.). From 4 September the list of state secretaries looks as follows:

To Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (Lab.)
Mr. Lars Erik Flatø (Lab.)
Mr. Bård Vegar Solhjell (Soc.) – leave of absence 26 May-15 September 2006
Ms. Hege Solbakken (Cent.)
Mr. Svein Fjellheim (Lab.)
Mr. Morten Wetland (Lab.)
Mr. Torbjørn Giæver Eriksen (Lab.) – leave of absence 13 May-17 September 2006
Ms. Rita Skjærvik (Lab.) – leave of absence 9 March-30 November 2006
Ms. Hilde Singsaas (Lab.) – acting 17 March-30 November 2006
Ms. Anne Odden (Lab.) – acting 1 June-17 September 2006
Mr. Kjetil Hillestad (Soc.) – acting 1 June-17 September 2006

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.)
Mr. Kjetil Skogrand (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 Odd Eriksen (Lab.)
Mr. Frode Berge (Lab.)
Ms. Karin Yrvin (Lab.)

To Minister of Transport and Communications Liv Signe Navarsete (Cent.)
Mr. Steinulf Tungesvik (Cent.)

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.)
Ms. Krishna Chudasama (Lab)

To Minister of Culture and Church Affairs Trond Giske (Lab.)
Ms. Randi Øverland (Lab.)
Ms. Mette Gundersen (Lab.)

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