​NCVO says it looks forward to working with new minister

John Glen has been named as the new minister for civil society after Rob Wilson lost his seat at the general election.

It will be the Salisbury MP's first ministerial role since being elected in 2010.

Glen has chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Uncertainties and was vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty as wells spending two and half years on the Defence Select Committee.

An Oxford graduate, Glen is married with two stepchildren and on his website states he was a trustee of a national youth charity.

Controversially, in 2012 Glen and 12 other MPs were subject of a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling them to sever ties with the charity Christian Action Research & Education after it emerged it had co-sponsored an event at which a "gay cure" was discussed.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the English and Welsh umbrella body, welcomed him to the new role, saying: “We know that with the right support from government, charities and volunteering can not only enrich our lives but also help deal with some of the biggest challenges we face as a society.

“The government could help in various ways, including making it easier for people to volunteer, sorting out public service commissioning, and using dormant assets money to endow community foundations and help local people take control of the community facilities, green spaces and historic buildings that matter to them.

“I'm looking forward to working with Mr Glen and hearing about his ideas for the role.”