Government appoints Mims Davies as youth minister

Her appointment follows the resignation last week of Tracey Crouch, who left the job saying she was unhappy with the government delaying measures to reduce maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals.

Davies was previously an assistant government whip, and in July became parliamentary under secretary of state for Wales. She will take on the full remit of Crouch, which in addition to youth work policy, includes civil society and sport. It also includes the National Lottery and gambling. The role will remain within the Department for Digital, Culture, and Media.

Youth leaders had hoped the government would use Crouch's departure as an opportunity to create a dedicated youth minister, amid concerns that reform of the youth sector could slip down the government's agenda with the minister having such a large portfolio.

James Cathcart, director of Young Voices Heard, said he is "disappointed that the Prime Minister did not take the opportunity of Tracey Crouch's resignation to reflect on whether the remit of Sport, Civil Society and in particular, youth, would be better served with separate Ministries".

He added: "I hope that this issue stays on the agenda, and in the meantime, might herald more visible pragmatic and resourced partnerships with the sector, to share the load, and in particular giving a higher profile to young representatives voice in government."