Richard Harrington was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions, said a spokeswoman for the DWP.
The Conservative member of Parliament for Watford was named to the position Sunday.
Mr. Harrington takes on the same responsibilities left vacant by the departure of Baroness Ros Altmann, who resigned from her role as minister of state for pensions last week.
“Pensions remain a key priority for the government and the important work to bring in the new state pension, roll out automatic enrollment and safeguard the pension freedoms will continue under the new minister,” said a statement provided by the spokeswoman.
She added that the main difference is that the government now has a “dedicated pensions minister in the House of Commons who can fully represent the government’s pension reforms in the house.” Ms. Altmann sat in the House of Lords, “which meant we needed additional representation in the House of Commons. Richard Harrington retains the same responsibilities as his predecessors.”
Mr. Harrington was previously parliamentary under secretary of state for Syrian refugees — the first to be appointed to that position — until Sunday. He took on the role in September 2015.
The announcement is the latest in a set of new appointments by Theresa May, the U.K.’s new prime minister who took on her role last week after David Cameron resigned following the Brexit result. It was announced that Damian Green had been chosen as secretary of state for work and pensions last week, following the resignation of Stephen Crabb.
Jack Lejk contributed to this story.
