Secretary of State (United Kingdom) explained

His Majesty's principal secretaries of state, or secretaries of state, are senior ministers of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom. Secretaries of state head most major government departments and make up the majority of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

Legal position

Legislation in the United Kingdom is often written like this example section of a hypothetical Silly Walks Act 1970:

In legislation, the term "Secretary of State", thus capitalised, is interpreted under the Interpretation Act 1978[1] as referring to any one of the secretaries of state in use; in practice, such secretaries of state are each allocated a portfolio by the prime minister, and only exercise the powers in that portfolio.[2] In this example, a "Secretary of State for Silly Walks" would be appointed to exercise the provisions of the Act, but could theoretically exercise the powers of, for example, the Secretary of State for Scotland at any time. There are exceptions, in that legislation sometimes refers to particular secretaries of state.[3]

Under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, a maximum of 21 secretaries of state can receive a salary.[4]

Secretaries of state and other government ministers are appointed by the Monarch exercising royal prerogative on the advice of the government.[5] By convention secretaries of state must be a member of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, but the prime minister can advise the monarch to confer a peerage to satisfy this requirement.[6]

Most secretaries of state are incorporated as a "corporation sole". This gives the minister a separate legal personality, allowing continuity in areas such as the ownership of property between office-holder changes.[7]

History

Kingdom of England

See main article: Secretary of State (England). The origin of the office lies in the office of the king's private secretary.[8] However, by the Tudor period, the office's purview had become more onerous.

In 1539 or 1540, Henry VIII appointed two people to the office.[9] After the Stuart Restoration, the practice of appointing two secretaries of state resumed.[10] A formal division, in the form of the offices of the secretary of state for the Northern Department and the secretary of state for the Southern Department, was made in 1689, though the office had been first divided into the Northern and Southern Department purviews in 1660.[9]

After the Union

In 1782, the responsibilities of these offices were changed, so that one would be responsible for foreign affairs and one for domestic affairs, thus establishing the embryonic offices of foreign secretary and home secretary. Over time, the number of secretaries of states grew, so that there were five in 1900 and 14 by 1996. There are currently 16 secretaries of state.[11]

Secretaries of state currently in use

Secretaries of state currently in use!Office!Created!Created from!Dissolved!Dissolved into!Ref(s)
Secretary of State for the Home Department1782
Secretary of State for Scotland17091746
1926 or 1928
Secretary of State for Wales1964Minister of Welsh Affairs (Home Office)[12]
Secretary of State for Defence1964[13]
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland1972[14]
Secretary of State for Transport1976Secretary of State for the Environment1979[15]
19811997Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
2002Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions[16]
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs2001Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions[17]
Secretary of State for Education1992Secretary of State for Education and Science1995Secretary of State for Education and Employment
2010[18]
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport1997Secretary of State for National Heritage2010Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
2012Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport2017Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
2023Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions2002Secretary of State for Social Security[19]
First Secretary of State1962 [20]
2002 Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
Secretary of State for Justice2007Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs[21]
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care2018Secretary of State for Health[22]
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs2020[23]
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government2018Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government2021Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
2024Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities[24]
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero2023Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology2023
Secretary of State for Business and Trade2023

Secretaries of state no longer in use

Secretaries of state no longer in use!Office!Created!Created from!Dissolved!Dissolved into!Ref(s)
Secretary of State for the Northern Department1689Secretary of State1782
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
Secretary of State for the Colonies17681782Secretary of State for the Home Department
1854Secretary of State for War and the Colonies1966
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs17821968Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for War17941801Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
1854Secretary of State for War and the Colonies1964Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies18011854
Secretary of State for India1858President of the Board of Control1937Secretary of State for India and Burma
Secretary of State for Air19191964Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for the Dominions1925
Secretary of State for India and Burma1937Secretary of State for India1947Secretary of State for Burma
Secretary of State for Burma1947Secretary of State for India and Burma1948
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations19471966Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for the Co-Ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power19511953
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs1966Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations1968Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for Economic Affairs19641969
Secretary of State for Education and Science19641992Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity19681970Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Social Services19681988
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs1968Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs2020
Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning19691970
Secretary of State for Employment19701995Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Secretary of State for the Environment19701997Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry19701974
19832007Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection19741979Secretary of State for Trade
Secretary of State for Social Security19882001Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Secretary of State for International Development19972020Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs20032007Secretary of State for Justice
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform2007Secretary of State for Trade and Industry2009Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union20162020[25] [26]
Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office20232024[27]
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities2021Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government2024Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government[28]

Health, education, work, business, energy, environment, transport and the regions

The secretaries of state that have been used for the matters of health, education, work, business, energy, environment, transport and the regions are shown in the graphic below. It shows how portfolios of responsibilities have been broadly passed down from one secretary of state position to the position(s) directly below it. However, it is impossible for such a graphic to be completely accurate; it cannot show smaller changes, or gains or losses of responsibilities within a position due to changes of responsibilities for the UK Government (for example, due to devolution or Brexit). It is not to scale. In the gaps, and before the first of these secretaries of state, relevant responsibilities were taken on by ministers not titled 'Secretary of State'.

1963Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1963–64)
1964Secretary of State for Education and Science (1964–1992)
1968Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (1968–1988)Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1968–1970)
1969Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (1969–70)
1970Secretary of State for Employment (1970–1995)Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1970–74)
1974Secretary of State for Industry (1974–1983)Secretary of State for Trade (1974–83)Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1974–1979)Secretary of State for Energy (1974–1992)
1976Secretary of State for the Environment (1970–1997)Secretary of State for Transport (1976–1979)
1979
1981Secretary of State for Transport (1981–1997)
1983
1988Secretary of State for Health (1988–2018)Secretary of State for Social Security (1988–2001)
1992Secretary of State for Education (1992–1995)Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1983–2007)
1995Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1995–2001)
1997Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1997–2001)
2001Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2001–present)Secretary of State for Education and Skills (2001–2007)Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2001–present)Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2001–02)
2002Secretary of State for Transport (2002–present)
2006Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2006–18)
2007Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (2007–10)Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007–2009)Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (2007–2009)
2008Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (2008–2016)
2009Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2009–2016)
2010
2016Secretary of State for International Trade (2016–2023)Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016–2023)
2018Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (2018–present)Secretary of State for Education (2010–present)Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (2018–2021)
2021Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (2021–2024)
2023Secretary of State for Business and Trade (2023–present)Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (2023–present)Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (2023–present)
2024Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (2024–present)

Key:

Secretary of state primarily relating to health
Secretary of state primarily relating to work and benefits
Secretary of state primarily relating to education
Secretary of state primarily relating to business
Secretary of state primarily relating to energy
Secretary of state primarily relating to the regions
Secretary of state primarily relating to transport
Secretary of state covering more than one of these areas
Secretary of state currently in use

Culture

The Secretaries of state that have been used for culture, heritage and sport are as follows:

Secretary of State for National Heritage (1992–1997)
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1997–2010)
Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (2010–2012)
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2012–2017)
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2017–2023)
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2023–present)

Notes and References

  1. act . 1978 . Interpretation Act 1978 . 30 . 1 . cs1 . 17 November 2023. "Secretary of State" means one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State..
  2. Web site: Cabinet Manual . 14 December 2010 . Cabinet Office . . 3.27 It is also the well-established practice for each secretary of state to be allocated responsibility by the Prime Minister for a particular department (for example health, foreign affairs, defence, transport, education etc.) and, accordingly, for each Secretary of State, in practice, to exercise only those functions that are within that department..
  3. For example:
    • act . 2017 . Digital Economy Act 2017 . 30 . 4 . cs1 . 22 June 2023.
    • act . 1920 . 16 . 0 . Imperial War Museum Act 1920 . cs1 . 22 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, Schedule 1, Part V, Paragraph 2 . legislation.gov.uk . 1 February 2021 . In the case of the following offices a salary may be paid to more than one holder of the office at the same time, subject to the limitations expressed below, that is to say— (a) Secretary of State, so long as not more than 21 salaries are paid at the same time in accordance with Part I above;.
  5. http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm71/7170/7170.pdf The Governance of Britain
  6. Web site: Kelly . Richard . 17 November 2023 . Ministers in the House of Lords . 30 November 2023 . House of Commons Library.
  7. Book: Cabinet Manual . 14 December 2010 . Cabinet Office . The Cabinet Manual . 3.28 Most secretaries of state are incorporated as 'corporations sole'. This gives the minister a separate legal personality. This is administratively convenient, for example as regards the ownership of property, because it facilitates continuity when the officeholder changes. .
  8. Book: Brazier, Rodney . Ministers of the Crown . 1997 . Clarendon . 0-19-825988-3 . Oxford . 9–10 . 37301571.
  9. Book: Pickrill, DA. Ministers of the Crown. Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1981. 0-7100-0916-X.
  10. Book: Sainty, J. C.. Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 2 - Officials of the Secretaries of State 1660-1782. British History Online. University of London. 1973. 1–21. en. Introduction. At the Restoration [in 1660] the practice of appointing two Secretaries of State, which was well established before the Civil War, was resumed. Apart from the modifications which were made necessary by the occasional existence of a third secretaryship, the organisation of the secretariat underwent no fundamental change from that time until the reforms of 1782 which resulted in the emergence of the Home and Foreign departments. ... English domestic affairs remained the responsibility of both Secretaries throughout the period. In the field of foreign affairs there was a division into a Northern and a Southern Department, each of which was the responsibility of one Secretary. The distinction between the two departments emerged only gradually. It was not until after 1689 that their names passed into general currency. Nevertheless the division of foreign business itself can, in its broad outlines, be detected in the early years of the reign of Charles II..
  11. Web site: Ministers . 31 March 2021 . gov.uk.
  12. Web site: Torrance. David. 19 June 2019. Introduction to devolution in the UK. 8 February 2021. House of Commons Library. 12.
  13. act . 1964 . 15 . Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964.
  14. [Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972]
  15. si . 1976 . 1775 . The Secretary of State for Transport Order 1976.
  16. si . 2002 . 2626 . The Transfer of Functions (Transport, Local Government and the Regions) Order 2002.
  17. si . 2001 . 2568 . The Secretaries of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Order 2001.
  18. si . 2010 . 1836 . The Secretary of State for Education Order 2010.
  19. si . 2002 . 1397 . The Secretaries of State for Education and Skills and for Work and Pensions Order 2002.
  20. Book: Brazier, Rodney. Choosing a Prime Minister: The Transfer of Power in Britain. Oxford University Press. 2020. 978-0-19-260307-4. Oxford, United Kingdom. 74. 1182632161.
  21. si . 2007 . 2128 . The Secretary of State for Justice Order 2007.
  22. si . 2018 . 378 . The Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care and for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Transfer of Functions (Commonhold Land) Order 2018.
  23. si . 2020 . 942 . The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020.
  24. Web site: 10 July 2024 . Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council, held by the King at Buckingham Palace on 10th July 2024 . Privy Council Meetings . The Privy Council Office . 20.
  25. si . 2016. 992 . The Secretaries of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for International Trade and for Exiting the European Union and the Transfer of Functions (Education and Skills) Order 2016.
  26. Web site: Duffy. Nick. 1 February 2020. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay exits cabinet as Boris Johnson shutters department. 31 March 2021. iNews.
  27. Web site: 15 February 2023 . Orders approved and business transacted at the Privy Council held by the King at Buckingham Palace on 15th February 2023 . Privy Council Meetings . The Privy Council Office . 8–10.
  28. si . 2021 . 1265 . The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Secretary of State (United Kingdom)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.