Three Tory MPs who resigned from the Conservative frontbench over the war in Iraq have rejoined the party's shadow ministerial team.

The changes were announced by Conservative Central Office late on Monday evening.

John Randall returns to the Whips Office, while Humfrey Malins becomes a spokesman on home affairs and John Baron takes a health portfolio under shadow secretary of state Liam Fox.

And former shadow skills minister Eleanor Laing will now respond to Margaret Hodge, the new children's minister.

Greg Knight moves from shadowing the Privy Council Office to the culture department, while Bill Wiggin is promoted to the shadow DEFRA team under David Lidington.

Reflecting the Conservative Party's calls for a new minister to take sole control of homeland security issues, Iain Duncan Smith has appointed Patrick Mercer to cover responsibilities that now fall within the remits of both the Home Office and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Elsewhere, Peter Duncan is promoted to take on Scotland Office shadow ministerial responsibilities, while Michael Fabricant takes a role in the shadow trade and industry team.

Nigel Waterson becomes shadow minister for the disabled.