Don Foster to be new "Minister for Empty Homes"?

Don Foster (pictured right*), Liberal Democract MP for Bath, has replaced Andrew Stunell at the Department for Communities and Local Government. The only information so far available regarding Don Foster's appointment says his "duties are not yet clear". So we don't yet know whether he will retain the responsiblity for empty homes previously held by Andrew Stunell. Given that empty homes is a policy area particularly associated with the LIberal Democrats there is a good likelihood that this will continue to be the case. On the other hand, Mark Prisk, the new Housing Minister, is a chartered surveyor and, for all we know, may have some desire to hold onto the brief himself (Andrew Stunell had been an architect; Don Foster's background was in education, mainly as a teacher and a trainer of teachers). The full ministerial team at DCLG can now be viewed on the DCLG website here*Image by Alex Folkes/Fishnik.com courtesy of Liberal Democrats (flickr)