The new Health Minister, Ben Shenton, announced the appointment in the States this morning, saying that the appointment had been ratified by Chief Minister Frank Walker. Senator Perchard was thanked by the heads of the Public Accounts Committee and the Corporate Services Scrutiny panel for his service as he now leaves Scrutiny to become part of the ministerial set-up. Row Senator Perchard is expected to be given special responsibility for social services which is the department at the centre of the row which led to Senator Stuart Syvret’s dismissal from Health last week. Senator Perchard is already on record as saying that any civil servants who are found to be implicated in providing failing services should be named publicly. The department is currently the subject of an independent inquiry being carried out by child care.