Taken from the Ministry website - I gather she is the new "Minister for the North West".
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page12189.asp
In the old days, of course, there was a "Minister for Merseyside". Now Merseyside / Greater Liverpool doesn't even had its own MEPs, being represented by Mancunians in the main for the regional "North West" constituency.
If this carries on, Liverpool will be unable to defend its interests at all, and will be progressively dismantled as a viable city. Liverpool needs its own regionalist version of the SNP or Plaid Cymru - a party that promises to fight for its interests and give the city region the autonomy it needs from its rivals who seek to destroy its infrastructure and capabilities.
Minister for Children, Young People and Families:
RT HON Beverley Hughes MP
Responsibility
Beverley Hughes has overarching responsibility for children, young people & families policy and the Every Child Matters programme, including leading work across government and working closely with the new Social Exclusion Minister. She will chair the departmental safeguarding board and maintain an overview of all areas.
Every Child Matters: strategy, change & performance
Local Govt Policy & Children's Trusts
ECM Deep Dives (and Cabinet Office review of ECM/Schools)
Inspection & Intervention
Govt offices & field forces
Commissioning & Market Development
Knowledge for Improvement
DfES/HMT Thematic Review of Children's Services
Finance
Sure Start, Early Years & Childcare
Delivery of the 10 Year Childcare Strategy
Extended Schools
Children's Centres
Childcare Bill
Early Learning & Development
Childcare Market Development
Youth Matters Strategy - policy development & implementation (including YOC)
Integrated & targeted support
"Respect" (including National Parenting Academy and respect parenting work)
Teenage Pregnancy strategy/PSA
Liaison with new Social Exclusion Ministers on teenage pregnancy & in preparation of LAC Green Paper
Chair of Departmental Safeguarding Board
Oversight of safeguarding issues and lead on response to serious case reviews and critical child protection incidents
Delivery of Looked After Children Green Paper (for Sept 06)
Workforce
Children's & early years workforce reform
Children's Workforce Development Council
Common Assessment Framework & Lead Professional
Information Sharing Index
Every Child Matters Communications strategy
Overview of the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Biography
Beverley was educated at Ellesmere Port Girl’s Grammar School. She went on to graduate with a BSc (Hons) from Manchester University in 1971, where she also graduated with an MSc for her postgraduate research into the care of people with schizophrenia in 1978. She undertook postgraduate professional training at Liverpool University and subsequently worked as a probation officer in Merseyside. From 1978 to 1997 she was a lecturer, senior lecturer and subsequently head the Department of Social Policy at Manchester University. Beverley is married with three children who all attended local primary and secondary schools, and lives in Trafford, Manchester.
In 1986 Beverley was elected Councillor for the borough of Trafford, and went on to become leader of the Labour Group in 1992, and Trafford Borough Council Leader in 1995.
In 1997 Beverley was elected MP for Stretford and Urmston. From June 1997 to July 1998 she served as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee until her appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hilary Armstrong, Minister for Local Government and Housing. In July 1999 the Prime Minister appointed her to the Government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, with responsibility for local government, regions, regeneration, planning and construction.
Following the general election in 2001, Beverley was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Probation in the Home Office and took through the emergency Crime and Anti-Terrorism legislation, passed in December 2001 following the events of September 11th. In the Cabinet re-shuffle of May 2002 she was appointed Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Counter Terrorism.
Following the general election in 2005, Beverley was appointed Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families at the Department for Education and Skills.
When Beverley is being introduced at events, she prefers a very short biography, such as:
Before entering Parliament in 1997, Beverley Hughes had a number of careers as a probation officer, academic and Local Councillor, becoming leader of Trafford Metropolitan Council in 1995. She was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary in 1998 and Minister for Local Government and Housing in 1999. At the Home Office, she was Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Prisons and Probations and the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Counter – Terrorism. In 2005 she was appointed Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families at the Department for Education and Skills.