LONDON: Minister for State Mark Prisk is the coalition government's new construction minister.

Conservative MP for Hertford and Stortford, Mark Prisk is to be given ministerial responsibility for the construction industry.

Mr Prisk, who as an opposition MP was shadow construction minister, was appointed minister of state at the department of Business, Innovation and Skills last week.

A source at the department said the construction brief will be part of a very wide range of responsibilities for the new minister, which will cover a number of other industry sectors and policy areas.

However, as minister of state, Mr Prisk is more senior than the last construction minister under Labour, Ian Lucas, who performed the role from the position of parliamentary under secretary.

Mr Prisk will report in to business secretary Vince Cable. Confirmation of Mr Prisk's full responsibilities is expected shortly.