Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences

Not to be confused with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent Dr Zubir Ahmed MP since 6 September 2025
Department of Health and Social Care
Style	Minister
Nominator	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Appointer	The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Website	www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--137

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences is a junior ministerial position in the Department of Health and Social Care in the British government. It is currently held by Zubir Ahmed MP.

The role has had different formal titles under various administrations, owing to varying responsibilities and political emphasis, such as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Life Science, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality ^[1] and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Quality. ^[2]

This office has traditionally been held by a member of the House of Lords.

Responsibility

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences leads on the following policy areas:

• Life sciences
• Medicines
• Research
• International diplomacy and relations
• Data and technology
• NHS security management, including cyber security
• Sponsorship of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Health Research Authority, and NHS Business Services Authority

List of ministers

Name		Portrait	Entered office	Left office	Political party
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
	Gloria Hooper, Baroness Hooper		28 July 1989	14 April 1992	Conservative
	Julia Cumberlege, Baroness Cumberlege		14 April 1992	2 May 1997	Conservative
Minister of State for Health
	Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington		2 May 1997	27 July 1998	Labour
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
	Helene Hayman, Baroness Hayman		28 July 1998	29 July 1999	Labour
	Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath		1 January 1998	17 March 2003	Labour
Minister of State for National Health Services Delivery
	Norman Warner, Baron Warner		13 June 2003	4 January 2007	Labour
Minister of State for National Health Services Reform
	Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath		5 January 2007	28 June 2007	Labour
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
	Ara Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham		29 June 2007	21 July 2009	Labour
	Glenys Thornton, Baroness Thornton		19 February 2010	11 May 2010	Labour
	Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe		17 May 2010	11 May 2015	Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for National Health Services Productivity
	David Prior, Baron Prior of Brampton		14 May 2015	21 December 2016	Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
	James O'Shaughnessy, Baron O'Shaughnessy		21 December 2016	31 December 2018	Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Life Science
	Nicola Blackwood, Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford		10 January 2019	13 February 2020	Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation
	James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell		9 March 2020	17 September 2021	Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences
	Syed Kamall, Baron Kamall		17 September 2021	20 September 2022	Conservative
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Life Sciences
	Zubir Ahmed MP		6 September 2025	Present	Labour

See also

• List of government ministers of the United Kingdom
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

References

1. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Innovation) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
2. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Quality - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-31.