Helen Liddell: 'Minister for the Today programme'

Downing street has given Scottish secretary Helen Liddell an extra role as "minister for the Today programme", it is claimed today.

In her new position, the secretary of state will become media spokesman on a range of policy issues, a move which seems to have already started with her appearances on the BBC On the Record and the Today programmes in the last two weeks.

The minister has also made a number of media appearances following the death of the Queen Mother.

The change is likely to heighten calls for the position of Scottish secretary to be abolished.

Since devolution many of her duties have been taken over by the Scottish executive.

A recently-leaked schedule for Liddell fuelled speculation that she worked a three-day week.

However, a spokesman for Liddell denied that the new role was formal. "She has been asked to do more media because she has a reputation for being a safe pair of hands," he said.

However, shadow Scottish secretary Jacqui Lait described the move as a "make-work scheme". "You have to wonder whether this is self-justification for an otherwise empty diary," she said.