List of government ministers of the United Kingdom

This article is about current and historic UK ministerial positions. For the people in the UK government, see British Government frontbench.

The following is a list of ministerial offices in the Government of the United Kingdom. The highest ranking ministers are Cabinet ministers or also attend Cabinet.

Prime Minister's Office

• Prime Minister (joint with the HM Treasury – the prime minister is the First Lord of the Treasury ex officio) ^{[n 1] [1]}
• First Lord of the Treasury
• First Secretary of State
• Minister for the Civil Service
• Minister for the Union
• Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
• Deputy Prime Minister

Former positions

Deputy Prime Minister's Office

• Minister Assisting the Deputy Prime Minister (joint with Cabinet Office)

Cabinet Office

• Minister for the Cabinet Office
• Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Minister without Portfolio
• Paymaster General (joint with HM Treasury)
• Minister of State without Portfolio
• Minister of State at the Cabinet Office
• Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Investment Security Unit

Government Equalities Office

• Minister for Women and Equalities
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women

Former positions

Cabinet Office

• President of the COP26 Climate Change Conference
• Minister of State at the Office of Public Service
• Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth
• Minister of State for Government Policy
• Minister of State for the Third Sector
• Minister for Digital Engagement and Civil Service Issues
• Minister Assisting the Deputy Prime Minister (joint with Deputy Prime Minister's Office)
• Parliamentary Secretary for Implementation
• Minister for Social Exclusion

• Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution (Minister of State at the Cabinet Office)
• Minister of State for Efficiency and Transformation (Minister of State at the Cabinet Office) (joint with HM Treasury)
• Minister of State for EU Relations (Minister of State at the Cabinet Office)

Government Equalities Office

• Minister for Women and Equalities
• Deputy Minister for Women (Second Blair ministry)

Defence ministers

Ministry of Defence

• Secretary of State for Defence
• Minister of State for the Armed Forces
• Minister of State for Defence Procurement
• Minister of State for Defence
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People

Former positions

• Secretary of State for Air
• Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
• First Lord of the Admiralty
• Treasurer of the Navy

Ministry of Defence

• Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy
• Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
• Minister of Defence for Equipment
• Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform
• Minister of State for International Defence and Security
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Security Strategy
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Reserves
• Under-Secretary of State for the Navy

National Government/War Cabinet Ministers

• Minister of War Production
• Minister of Aircraft Production
• Minister of Supply
• Minister-Resident for the Middle East
• Minister of Reconstruction (also WW1)
• Minister of Munitions
• Minister of Defence
• Minister for Co-ordination of Defence
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions
• Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions

War Office

• Secretary of State for War
• Secretary at War (occasionally Cabinet position)
• Under-Secretary of State for War
• Financial Secretary to the War Office
• Paymaster-General of the Forces

His Majesty's Treasury

• First Lord of the Treasury (joint with the Prime Minister's Office)
• Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Second Lord of the Treasury
• Chief Secretary to the Treasury
• Paymaster General (joint with the Cabinet Office)
• Financial Secretary to the Treasury
• Economic Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister)
• Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
• Minister of State for Efficiency and Transformation (Minister of State for the Treasury) (joint with the Cabinet Office)

Former positions

• Commercial Secretary to the Treasury
• Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister)
• Minister of State for Revenue Protection at the Border (Minister of State for the Treasury)
• Minister of State for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe (joint with Trade and Industry)

Department of Economic Affairs

• Secretary of State for Economic Affairs
• Minister of State for Economic Affairs
• Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs

Foreign Affairs ministers

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

• Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs ^[2]
• Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa
• Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment (joint with DEFRA)
• Minister of State for Asia
• Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for European Neighbourhood and the Americas
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development

Former positions

• Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• Secretary of State for the Northern Department
• Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
• Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
• Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
• Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Heath)
• Minister of State for International Energy Strategy
• Minister of State for the Middle East
• Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs
• Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations
• Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
• Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Under-Secretary of State for the Northern Department
• Chief Mouser to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

India Office and Burma Office

• Secretary of State for India
• President of the Board of Control
• Secretary of State for India and Burma
• Secretary of State for Burma

Department for Exiting the European Union

• Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
• Minister of State for Exiting the European Union
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

Department for International Development

• Secretary of State for International Development
• Minister of State for International Development
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Syrian Refugees (joint with Communities and Home Office)

Justice ministers

Ministry of Justice

• Secretary of State for Justice ^{[n 2]}
• Lord Chancellor ^{[n 2]}
• Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service (joint with the Home Office)
• Minister of State for Prisons and Probation
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Immigration Compliance and the Courts (joint with the Home Office)

Former positions

Ministry of Justice

• Minister of State for Prisons
• Minister of State for Civil Justice and Legal Policy
• Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement (joint with Education)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Youth Justice
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Human Rights

Department for Constitutional Affairs

• Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs

Lord Chancellor's Department

• Minister of State for the Lord Chancellor's Department
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Lord Chancellor's Department

Home affairs ministers

Home Office

• Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Deputy Home Secretary
• Minister of State for Security
• Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service (joint with Justice)
• Minister of State for Countering Extremism (joint with GEO)
• Minister of State for Building Safety and Communities (joint with Communities)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration and Future Borders
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration Compliance and Courts (joint with Justice)

Former positions

Home Office

• Minister of State for Asylum and Immigration
• Minister of State for Home Affairs
• Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
• Minister of State for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime
• Minister of State for Security and Counter-Terrorism
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Syrian Refugees (joint with Communities and International Development)

Health ministers

Department of Health and Social Care

• Secretary of State for Health and Social Care ^[3]
• Minister of State for Health
• Minister of State for Social Care
• Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation

Former positions

Department of Health

• Secretary of State for Health
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality

Department of Health and Social Care

• Minister of State for Care and Mental Health

Business and trade ministers

Department for Business and Trade

• Secretary of State for Business and Trade ^{[n 3]}
• President of the Board of Trade ^{[n 3]}
• Minister of State for Industry
• Minister of State for Investment
• Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Legislation
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports

Former positions

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

• Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ^[4]
• Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth
• Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
• Minister of State for Decentralisation and Planning
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Industry
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Climate Change and Corporate Responsibility
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Climate Change

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

• Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for International Trade

• Secretary of State for International Trade
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade

Department of Trade and Industry

• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
• Minister of State for Trade and Industry

Ministry of Technology

• Minister of Technology
• Minister of State for Technology
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology

Education ministers

Department for Education (2010–present)

• Secretary of State for Education
• Minister of State for School Standards
• Minister of State for Universities
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System

Former positions

Department for Education (2010–present)

• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships

Department for Children, Schools and Families (2007–2010)

• Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
• Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement (joint with Justice)

Department for Education and Skills (2001–2007)

• Secretary of State for Education and Skills

Work and Pensions ministers

Department for Work and Pensions

• Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
• Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Inclusion
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Former positions

Department of Social Security

• Secretary of State for Social Security
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security

Department for Work and Pensions

• Minister of State for Pensions and Child Maintenance
• Minister of State for Welfare Reform

Environment ministers

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment (joint with FCDO)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Opportunities
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity

Former positions

• Minister of State for Environment and Countryside

Transport ministers

Department for Transport

• Secretary of State for Transport
• Minister of State for Transport
• Minister of State for Rail
• Minister of State for High Speed 2
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads and Light Rail
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation and Maritime
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Future of Transport

Former positions

• Minister for Public Transport
• Minister for Railways and Roads
• Under-Secretary of State for Transport

Local and devolved government

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

• Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Minister of State for Housing
• Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government
• Minister of State for London
• Minister of State for Building Safety and Communities
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Rough Sleeping and Housing

Northern Ireland Office

• Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• Minister of State for Northern Ireland
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Scotland Office

• Secretary of State for Scotland
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland

Wales Office

• Secretary of State for Wales
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales

Former positions

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

• Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth (joint with Cabinet Office)
• Minister of State for Portsmouth
• Minister of State for Communities and Resilience
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith and Communities
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Syrian Refugees (joint with International Development and Home Office)

Culture and media ministers

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

• Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
• Minister of State for Digital and Culture
• Minister of State for Media and Data
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Infrastructure
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Civil Society and Digital, Media Culture and Sport

Former positions

• Secretary of State for National Heritage

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

• Minister of State for Sport, Media and Creative Industries
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Arts, Heritage and Tourism
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital and Broadband
• Minister of State for Communications (joint with Business)
• Minister of State for the Millennium

Post Office

• Postmaster General of the United Kingdom

Secretaries of State

Main article: Secretary of State (UK)

Main article: Minister of State (UK)

Main article: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Parliamentary leadership

House of Commons

• Leader of the House of Commons
• Deputy Leader of the House of Commons

House of Lords

• Leader of the House of Lords
• Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Whips

House of Commons

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
• Treasurer of His Majesty's Household (Deputy Chief Whip)
• Comptroller of His Majesty's Household
• Vice-Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household
• Junior Lord of the Treasury/Lords Commissioners of the Treasury
• Assistant Government Whip

House of Lords

• Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Chief Whip)
• Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard (Deputy Chief Whip)
• Baronesses and Lords in waiting (Lords Whips)

Law officers

• Attorney General for England and Wales ^{[n 4]}
• Advocate General for Scotland
• Advocate General for Northern Ireland
• Solicitor General for England and Wales

Former positions

• Attorney-General for Ireland
• Solicitor-General for Ireland

Sinecures

• Lord President of the Council
• Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal

Notes

1. The Prime Minister has concurrently served as First Lord of the Treasury since 1902, Minister for the Civil Service since 1968 and Minister for the Union since 2019.
2. Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor have been held jointly since 2007.
3. Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade have been held jointly since 2023.
4. The Attorney General for England and Wales has concurrently served as Advocate General for Northern Ireland since 2010.

References

1. "Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
2. "Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
3. "Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
4. "Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-24.

External links

• www.gov.uk/government/ministers
• House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, sch 2
• Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, sch 1