Alan Mak
Alan Mak has been formally appointed as construction minister, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has told Construction News.
The MP for Havant succeeds Nusrat Ghani, who left the role on 26 March, after 16 months in post.
Mak becomes the 25th holder of the construction portfolio this century, and will also become co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council with Mace chief executive Mark Reynolds.
Earlier this month, Mak was named as parliamentary under-secretary of state for industry and economic security – a junior minister in both the Cabinet Office and Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Official sign-off for the portfolios he will cover in the role was confirmed last week.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the department told CN that Mak was now “responsible for the construction sector”.
Mak’s DBT portfolio covers a wide range of responsibilities including materials, steel, critical minerals, sustainability and infrastructure.
He will also lead policy on global supply chains, economic security, trade defence, sanctions and Ukraine reconstruction.
Sectors for which he will be responsible include advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, professional services, maritime and shipbuilding.
The Industrial Development Advisory Board, which advises ministers on applications from firms aiming to start capital projects in poorer parts of the country, will report to Mak.
The minister’s responsibilities within the Cabinet Office will include overseeing the Investment Security Unit and the National Security and Investment Act.
In 2020, Mak voiced unhappiness with a proposed change to the formula by which housing targets were calculated.
After the proposal was dropped, he said: “I opposed the proposed new housing target formula because it was not appropriate for the Havant constituency, and today’s confirmation that it will not be going ahead is welcome news.”
Last year, he launched construction of a new £58m emergency department at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, which sits within his constituency.
That scheme is being built by a joint venture between Sir Robert McAlpine and Vinci.
