Mitchell rises, but new boy gets Chalker joi
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NEW JUNIOR Transport Minister Peter Bottomley is to take over all the responsibilities of former Transport Minister Lynda Chalker.
Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley has decided to do a straight swop of responsibilities following Chalker's move to the Foreign Office.
Although David Mitchell has been promoted from a Junior Transport Minister to Minister of State, he will retain his responsibilities for public transport.
It is understood that Mitchell's promotion was delayed following advice from Government whips that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher should delay filling the post, in case Trade and Industry Secretary Leon Britran had to resign and all the vacancil created as a result should filled at the same nine.
However, Thatcher ignorc the advice and promoted Mi chell just two days befoi Briton quit.
Bottomley, a "drippin wet" Tory, has been movc from the Department of En ployment, which has a ligl workload at the moment.