Britain's new Minister for the Overseas Territories is 44-year-old father of two Bill Rammell. The MP for Harlow was elected to the Commons in 1997 and proved himself a staunch supporter of Tony Blair's Government. Mr. Blair reshuffled his Cabinet in the wake of the resignation of Clare Short, Minister for International Aid.

She was replaced by Baroness Valerie Amos whose portfolio had included the Overseas Territories.

The new portfolios were announced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) yesterday.

One of two parliamentary Under Secretaries in the FCO, Mr. Rammell's responsibilities also include Latin America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific, Global Issues, Drugs Issues and Immigration and Asylum policy.