A Norfolk MP has been appointed as the government's advisor on life sciences and will lead a drive to develop economic growth in the sector.

Life sciences include medical technology and the pharmaceutical industry on one side and also agricultural and food science on the other.

Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman, who used to work in the pharmaceutical industry, was appointed to the position based at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the wake of the government reshuffle.

He said: 'The key point is that to get out of this crisis we are in, we need to sell things that the world needs; particularly to the world's fastest growing economies outside the Eurozone.

'Our life sciences sector has a key role to play in unlocking a viable economic future for Britain.'

His appointment is good news for the Norwich Research Park, underlining a government commitment to the life sciences research carried out there that has already attracted �90m of state funding earlier this year.

Meanwhile the reshuffle also saw other Norfolk MPs given ministerial jobs, including Norwich North MP Chloe Smith, North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis and South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss.

Meanwhile Suffolk West MP Matt Hancock and Central Suffolk MP Dan Poulter also scored ministerial positions.