Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

Last updated
United Kingdom
Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
Patrick Vallance Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 - headshot crop.jpg
since 5 July 2024
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
AppointerThe Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Formation1998
First holder David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville
Website www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state-for-science-research-and-innovation

The minister of state for science, research and innovation [1] (also known as the science minister) is a mid-level position in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in the British government. It was re-created by the Second Johnson ministry out of the minister of state for universities.

Contents

From 2016 to 2023, the minister was based at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Responsibilities

The minister has responsibility of the following policy areas:

List of ministers

NamePortraitTook officeLeft officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation
Role formed out of Minister of State for Science, Energy and Industry
David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville Lord Sainsbury launching his new book 'Progressive Capitalism' at Policy Exchange.jpg 27 July 199810 November 2006Labour Tony Blair
Minister of State for Science and Innovation
Malcolm Wicks

MP for Croydon North

Malcolm Wicks MP.jpg 10 November 200628 June 2007Labour Tony Blair
Ian Pearson

MP for Dudley South

Ian Pearson (3x4 crop).jpg 28 June 20075 October 2008Labour Gordon Brown
Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson Paul Rudd Drayson 02.jpg 3 October 200811 May 2010Labour
Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities
David Willetts

MP for Havant

Official portrait of Lord Willetts crop 2.jpg 11 May 201014 July 2014 Conservative David Cameron
Greg Clark

MP for Royal Tunbridge Wells

Official portrait of Rt Hon Greg Clark MP crop 2.jpg 15 July 201411 May 2015 Conservative
Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
Jo Johnson

MP for Orpington

Official portrait of Joseph Johnson crop 2 (cropped).jpg 11 May 20159 January 2018 Conservative David Cameron
Theresa May
Sam Gyimah

MP for East Surrey

Official portrait of Mr Sam Gyimah crop 2.jpg 9 January 201830 November 2018 Conservative
Chris Skidmore [2]

MP for Kingswood

Official portrait of Chris Skidmore crop 2.jpg 5 December 201824 July 2019 Conservative
Jo Johnson

MP for Orpington

Official portrait of Joseph Johnson crop 2 (cropped).jpg 24 July 20195 September 2019 Conservative Boris Johnson
Chris Skidmore

MP for Kingswood

Official portrait of Chris Skidmore crop 2.jpg 10 September 2019 13 February 2020 Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation
Amanda Solloway

MP for Derby North

Official portrait of Amanda Solloway MP crop 2.jpg 14 February 202017 September 2021Conservative Boris Johnson
George Freeman

MP for Mid Norfolk

Official portrait of George Freeman MP crop 2.jpg 17 September 2021 [3] 7 July 2022 Conservative
Minister of State for Science and Investment Security
Nus Ghani

MP for Wealden

NusratGhaniMP.jpg 7 September 202226 October 2022Conservative Liz Truss
Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation
(since 7 February 2023 in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
George Freeman

MP for Mid Norfolk

Official portrait of George Freeman MP crop 2.jpg 26 October 2022 13 November 2023 Conservative Rishi Sunak
Andrew Griffith

MP for Arundel and South Downs

Official portrait of Andrew Griffith MP crop 2.jpg 13 November 2023 5 July 2024Conservative
Patrick Vallance, Baron Vallance of Balham Patrick Vallance Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 - headshot crop.jpg 5 July 2024IncumbentLabour Keir Starmer

See also

References

  1. "Minister of State (Minister for Science, Research and Innovation) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  2. Gaind, Nisha; Vesper, Inga (2018-12-05). "Government loyalist appointed new UK science minister as Brexit woes continue" . Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-07655-9. S2CID   158206538.
  3. "George Freeman confirmed as new UK science minister". 17 September 2021.