Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education

Last updated

United Kingdom
Minister of State for Skills
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
Jacqui Smith official portrait.jpg
Incumbent
The Baronesss Smith of Malvern
since 6 July 2024
Department for Education
Style Minister
Nominator Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
AppointerThe Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Formation2001 (Second Blair ministry)
First holder Margaret Hodge MP
Website https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--175

The office of Minister of State for Skills, [1] formerly Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education and previously Minister of State for Universities, is a mid-level position in the Department for Education in the British government. The position has been filled by Jacqui Smith since July 2024. [2] The minister has oversight over skills and higher and further education, including universities and the Student Loans Company.

Contents

Under New Labour, the role was known as Minister of State for Higher Education and Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Under the Cameron–Clegg coalition and May ministries, the role became known as Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities and Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. The role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation was created out of this office.

Following the 2021 British cabinet reshuffle under the second Johnson ministry, the role was known as Minister of State for Higher and Further Education and the officeholder, Michelle Donelan, was given the right to attend Cabinet. Under Donelan's successor, Andrea Jenkyns, the position was demoted to a parlimentary under-secretary of state role and known as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Further and Higher Education.

Under the Sunak ministeries, the role was promoted back to the level of Minister of State. [3]

At certain times, the minister worked in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The short form Skills Minister is sometimes used. [4]

History

The position had increased prominence in 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic affected further education and university education. [5] The minister attended cabinet briefly after the 2021 British cabinet reshuffle. [6]

Responsibilities

The minister has the following responsibilities: [7]

List of ministers of state for higher and further education

NamePortraitTook officeLeft officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Role created out of the Department for Education and Skills
Minister of State for Universities
Margaret Hodge

MP for Barking

Official portrait of Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP crop 2.jpg 11 June 200113 June 2003 Labour Tony Blair

(ll)

Minister of State for Higher Education
Alan Johnson

MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle

Alan Johnson MP.jpg 13 June 20038 September 2004 Labour Tony Blair

(ll)

Kim Howells

MP for Pontypridd

Kim Howells 2.jpg 10 September 200411 May 2005 Labour Tony Blair

(ll)

Bill Rammell

MP for Harlow

Bill Rammell.jpg 11 May 20055 October 2008 Labour Tony Blair

(lll)

Gordon Brown

(l)

Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills
David Lammy

the MP for Tottenham

Official portrait of Rt Hon David Lammy MP crop 5.jpg 28 June 200711 May 2010 Labour Gordon Brown

(l)

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

(Coalition)

Greg Clark

MP for Royal Tunbridge Wells

Official portrait of Rt Hon Greg Clark MP crop 2.jpg 15 July 201411 May 2015 Conservative David Cameron

(Coalition)

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

(II)

Theresa May

(I) + (II)

Sam Gyimah

MP for East Surrey

Official portrait of Mr Sam Gyimah crop 2.jpg 9 January 201830 November 2018 Conservative Theresa May

(II)

Chris Skidmore [8]

MP for Kingswood

Official portrait of Chris Skidmore crop 2.jpg 5 December 201824 July 2019 Conservative Theresa May

(II)

Jo Johnson

MP for Orpington

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

(l)

Chris Skidmore

MP for Kingswood

Official portrait of Chris Skidmore crop 2.jpg 10 September 2019 13 February 2020 Conservative Boris Johnson

(l) + (ll)

Minister of State for Universities Feb 2020 to Sept 2021
Minister of State for Higher and Further Education Sept 2021 to July 2022
Michelle Donelan

MP for Chippenham

Official portrait of Michelle Donelan MP crop 2.jpg 13 February 2020 5 July 2022 Conservative Boris Johnson

(ll)

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Further and Higher Education July 2022 to Sept 2022
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills Sept to Oct 2022
Andrea Jenkyns

MP for Morley and Outwood

Official portrait of Mrs Andrea Jenkyns MP crop 2.jpg 9 July 202226 October 2022 Conservative Boris Johnson

(ll)

Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education
Robert Halfon

MP for Harlow

Official portrait of Robert Halfon crop 2.jpg 26 October 202226 March 2024 Conservative Rishi Sunak (I)
Luke Hall

MP for Thornbury and Yate

Official portrait of Luke Hall MP crop 2.jpg 26 March 20245 July 2024 Conservative
Minister of State for Skills
The Baroness Smith of Malvern Jacqui Smith crop.jpg 6 July 2024Incumbent Labour Keir Starmer (I)

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References

  1. "Minister of State (Minister for Skills) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. "The Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. "Minister of State (Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. "Two ministers make visit to Keighley". Rombalds Radio. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023. Skills Minister Robert Halfon
  5. "Ministers urged to put pressure on universities over refunds for students". Shropshire Star. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  6. "Cabinet reshuffle 2021: Who is in Boris Johnson's new cabinet?". BBC News. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  7. "Minister of State (Minister for Skills) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  8. Gaind, Nisha; Vesper, Inga (5 December 2018). "Government loyalist appointed new UK science minister as Brexit woes continue". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-07655-9. S2CID   158206538.

See also