The Minister of Local Government and Modernisation is a Councillor of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Since 16 October 2013 the position has been held by Jan Tore Sanner of the Conservative Party. The ministry is responsible for local administration, including municipalities and county municipalities, rural and regional policy, information technology, elections and government administration, including management of state real estate and government employment. Major subordinate agencies include the Government Administration Services, Statsbygg, the Competition Authority, the National Office of Building Technology and Administration, the State Housing Bank and the Data Protection Authority.