Family illness means Universities Minister Chris Skidmore will temporarily take over climate brief
Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry is taking a temporary leave of absence from her ministerial position due to a family illness, she announced yesterday.
Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed that Universities Minister Chris Skidmore will handle Perry's brief while she is away.
In a statement Downing Street confirmed Skidmore, MP for Kingswood, will take Perry's place in Cabinet discussions. He will handle the climate and energy brief alongside his existing ministerial responsibilities for education reform and science, research and innovation, No10 said.
"The Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, Claire Perry, will be taking a temporary leave of absence to care for a close family member who is unwell," the statement said.
"In her absence, the current Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Chris Skidmore, will be providing temporary ministerial cover for the energy and clean growth portfolio."
I am extremely grateful to @theresa_may for allowing me to take a temporary ministerial leave of absence to care for a family member and huge thanks to my talented colleague @CSkidmoreUK for covering the crucial Energy and Clean Growth brief whilst I'm away.
— Claire Perry (@claireperrymp) 20 May 2019
No indication was given of how long Perry's leave might be. It comes at a crucial moment in climate change policy, as the government considers whether to follow the Committee on Climate Change's advice for the UK to adopt a net zero emissions target for 2050.
There has been speculation that the government may seek to prepare legislation to formally adopt the CCC's advice as soon as before Parliament's summer recess, with the Prime Minister Theresa May looking to secure her legacy beyond Brexit before she steps down.
Raising ambition from the current target of an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 from 1990 levels to a net zero goal would require ramping up climate action across the entire economy, including rolling out more green energy, moving faster on zero emission transport and tackling emissions from agriculture.
Writing on Twitter Skidmore said he was "honoured" to take on the energy and clean growth brief. "I will try my best to match Claire's huge dedication and commitment to this crucially important brief," he said.
"I will also continue in my current role as Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation - indeed I hope to also highlight the vitally important work that science, research and our universities are doing in tackling climate change and innovating for clean growth," he added.