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ED BALLS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES
28 June 2007Ed Balls is today appointed as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. Ed Balls said:“It is a great honour and a great responsibility to be the first ever Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. Children and families are the bedrock of our society and for the first time this new department will bring together all aspects of policy affecting children and young people. “Every parent wants their child to get the best possible start in life and have the best chance to do well in school. Our responsibility will be to support families and ensure that all children and young people are safe and healthy, that they secure the highest standards of achievements, that they enjoy their childhood and that they can make a positive contribution to society free from the effects of poverty. “Building on a track record of real achievement we will continue to drive up standards in every school so that every child receives the best possible education, personalised to their needs, aptitudes and aspirations. “Working closely with the Youth Justice Board there will be a new emphasis on preventing youth offending.“I will also ensure that the new department works very closely with the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. We have already made very good progress on the development of the new Diplomas and we will need to ensure that the reforms we are making to education for 14-19 year olds are embedded into the priorities of employers and the economy.“The Prime Minister has said that education and supporting children will be his top priority and I will do my best to deliver for children, families and young people across the country.”Mr Balls was previously Economic Secretary to the Treasury, taking up appointment on 5 May 2006. He has been a Member of Parliament for Normanton since 2005.Mr Balls was born in 1967 and educated at Nottingham High School; Keble College, Oxford; and the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard. Mr Balls was a teaching fellow Department of Economics, Harvard 1989-90; and an Economics Leader writer and columnist for the Financial Times 1990-94. He was Economic Adviser to the then Shadow Chancellor Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP 1994-97; Economic Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997-99; Chief Economic Adviser to the HM Treasury 1999-2004; and Research Fellow, Smith Institute 2004-05. Ed Balls has had a number of publications including ‘Towards a new Regional Policy’ and ‘Reforming Britain’s economic and financial policy: towards greater economic stability’ and ‘Microeconomic Reform in Britain: Delivering Opportunities for All’. Mr Balls is a member of the TGWU, Unison and the Co-operative Party. Mr Balls is married to Yvette Cooper MP and has three children. Outside work Mr Balls’ interests include music, cooking and playing football with his children.Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
None Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2007/0118
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