Press release

No.: 46/2004
Date: 01.10.04

The Ministry of Modernisation is formally established

The Ministry of Modernisation was formally established 1 October 2004. The Ministry, lead by the Minister of Modernisation, Mr. Morten Andreas Meyer, is designated to be a spearhead in the Government's effort to modernise Norway's public sector. The new ministry's own fields of responsibility are as well important elements in the modernisation efforts.

Areas of responsibility
Responsible for national IT policy, the ministry will contribute to the establishment of effective and user friendly IT solutions in the public sector, and help in taking advantage of the social gains of information technology as a whole.

The Ministry has the responsibility for a comprehensive competition policy, including laws and regulations in the field of public acquisition and support schemes. The competition policy aims at providing the right conditions for a beneficial competition policy promoting increased productivity in businesses and lower costs for consumers and enterprises.

In charge of employer responsibility for state employees, the Ministry aims at securing an inclusive and stimulating personnel policy, as well as conditions for work and employment that will improve employee mobility between the public and private sector. 

The Ministry is in charge of leadership and organisational development as well as restructuring and adjustment of government administration. In addition, the Ministry of Modernisation has vital service functions for the ministries and the state sector as a whole.

Organisation of the Ministry
The head of the Ministry of Modernisation's administration is Secretary General Mrs Karin Moe Røisland. The Ministry has 200 employees. It is organised in five departments and two staff units: The Department of Restructuring and Personnel Policy, Department of Competition Policy, Department of Government Services, Department of Information Technology and Departement of internal Administration; staffs are the Wage Negotiations Staff and Economics and Economic Analysis Unit.

The Ministry is responsible for these government agencies: The County Governors, The Competition Authority, the Public Service Pension Fund, The Directorate of Public Construction and Property (Statsbygg), the Government Administration Services and the Data Inspectorate. It also owns Statskonsult AS - a limited company that deals with public management development.