Prime Minister Gordon Brown has appointed Dawn Butler to the new role of Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement.
Butler, who will be based in the Cabinet Office, will continue with her duties as an assistant whip, but will also work with relevant departments such as the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Ministry of Justice.
She will lead the government's response to the Youth Citizenship Commission, to be published before the end of the year, and develop action arising from the commission's earlier report. She will also look at increasing young people's participation in politics and communities.
Butler is honorary president of the British Youth Council and is the Labour Party's vice-chair for youth.
