Sir Chris Bryant has been confirmed as new tourism minister following his appointment as minister of state at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Bryant will have multiple responsibilities since as well as being minister for creative industries, arts and tourism at DCMS he is also a minister of state for data protection and telecoms at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
He is an experienced MP, having represented Rhondda and Ogmore in Parliament since June 2001.
However, he will be responsible not just for tourism and heritage at DCMS, but the creative industries, arts and libraries, museums and cultural property, cultural diplomacy and soft power.
At DSIT Bryant has responsibility for digital infrastructure and telecoms, the Building Digital UK (BDUK) expansion of fast broadband and mobile coverage, data protection (including the Data Bill), the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and digital inclusion, as well as the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and growth of the space sector.
Bryant will report to culture secretary Lisa Nandy at DCMS and to the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Peter Kyle, at DSIT.
A former Anglican priest and one-time head of European affairs at the BBC, Bryant was appointed shadow arts minister in 2014, shadow culture secretary in 2015 and shadow leader of the Commons in 2015-16.
He acted as deputy leader of the Commons in 2008-09 and under-secretary of state for Europe and Asia from 2009 until the 2010 general election.
Bryant will work at DCMS alongside Stephanie Peacock MP, minister for sport, media, civil society and youth, and Baroness Fiona Twycross, minister for gambling.
His fellow ministers at DSIT are Lord Patrick Vallance, minister of state for science, research and innovation; Feryal Clark MP, under-secretary of state for AI and digital government; and Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, under-secretary of state for the future digital economy and online safety