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 Department | 1782 | | | | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | 1709 | | 1746 | | |
| 1926 or 1928 | | | | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | 1964 | Minister of Welsh Affairs (Home Office) | | | [12] |
| Secretary of State for Defence | 1964 | | | | [13] |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | 1972 | | | | [14] |
| Secretary of State for Transport | 1976 | Secretary of State for the Environment | 1979 | | [15] |
| 1981 | | 1997 | Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | |
| 2002 | Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions | | | [16] |
| Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 2001 | Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | | | [17] |
| Secretary of State for Education | 1992 | Secretary of State for Education and Science | 1995 | Secretary of State for Education and Employment | |
| 2010 | Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills | | | [18] |
| Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | 1997 | Secretary of State for National Heritage | 2010 | Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport | |
| 2012 | Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport | 2017 | Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | |
| 2023 | Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | | | |
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | 2002 | Secretary of State for Social Security | | | [19] |
| First Secretary of State | 1962 | | | | [20] |
| 2002 | Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions | | | |
| Secretary of State for Justice | 2007 | Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs | | | [21] |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | 2018 | Secretary of State for Health | | | [22] |
| Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | 2020 | | | | [23] |
| Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government | 2018 | Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government | 2021 | Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | |
| 2024 | Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | | | [24] |
| Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero | 2023 | Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | | | |
| Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | 2023 | Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | | | |
| Secretary of State for Business and Trade | 2023 | Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Secretary of State for International Trade | | | | |
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 Department | 1689 | Secretary of State | 1782 | | |
| Secretary of State for the Southern Department |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | 1768 | | 1782 | Secretary of State for the Home Department | |
| 1854 | Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | 1966 | | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | 1782 | | 1968 | Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |
| Secretary of State for War | 1794 | | 1801 | Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | |
| 1854 | Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | 1964 | Secretary of State for Defence | |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | 1801 | | 1854 | | |
| Secretary of State for India | 1858 | President of the Board of Control | 1937 | Secretary of State for India and Burma | |
| Secretary of State for Air | 1919 | | 1964 | Secretary of State for Defence | |
| Secretary of State for the Dominions | 1925 | | | | |
| Secretary of State for India and Burma | 1937 | Secretary of State for India | 1947 | Secretary of State for Burma | |
| Secretary of State for Burma | 1947 | Secretary of State for India and Burma | 1948 | | |
| Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | 1947 | | 1966 | Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs | |
| Secretary of State for the Co-Ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power | 1951 | | 1953 | | |
| Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs | 1966 | Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | 1968 | Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | |
| Secretary of State for Economic Affairs | 1964 | | 1969 | | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | 1964 | | 1992 | Secretary of State for Education | |
| Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity | 1968 | | 1970 | Secretary of State for Employment | |
| Secretary of State for Social Services | 1968 | | 1988 | | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | 1968 | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | 2020 | | |
| Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning | 1969 | | 1970 | | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | 1970 | | 1995 | Secretary of State for Education and Employment | |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | 1970 | | 1997 | Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions | |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | 1970 | | 1974 | |
|
| 1983 | | 2007 | Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform | |
| Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection | 1974 | | 1979 | Secretary of State for Trade | |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | 1988 | | 2001 | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | |
| Secretary of State for International Development | 1997 | | 2020 | Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | |
| Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs | 2003 | | 2007 | Secretary of State for Justice | |
| Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform | 2007 | Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | 2009 | Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills | |
| Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | 2016 | | 2020 | | [25] [26] |
| Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office | 2023 | | 2024 | | [27] |
| Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | 2021 | Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government | 2024 | Secretary 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'.
| 1963 | | | | | | Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1963–64) | |
| 1964 | | | | Secretary of State for Education and Science (1964–92) | |
| 1968 | Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (1968–88) | Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1968–70) | |
| 1969 | | | | Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (1969–70) | |
| 1970 | Secretary of State for Employment (1970–95) | Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1970–74) | | | |
| 1974 | Secretary of State for Industry (1974–83) | Secretary of State for Trade (1974–83) | Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1974–79) | Secretary of State for Energy (1974–92) |
| 1976 | Secretary of State for the Environment (1970–97) | Secretary of State for Transport (1976–9) |
| 1979 | | | | |
| 1981 | | Secretary of State for Transport (1981–97) |
| 1983 | |
| 1988 | Secretary of State for Health (1988–2018) | Secretary of State for Social Security (1988–2001) |
| 1992 | Secretary of State for Education (1992–95) | Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1983–2007) |
| 1995 | Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1995–2001) |
| 1997 | Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1997–2001) |
| |
| 2001 | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2001–present) | Secretary of State for Education and Skills (2001–07) | Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2001–present) | Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2001–02) |
| | |
| 2002 | | Secretary of State for Transport (2002–present) |
| 2006 | Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2006–18) |
| 2007 | Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (2007–10) | Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007–09) | Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (2007–09) |
| | | | | | |
| 2008 | | Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (2008–16) | |
| 2009 | Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2009–16) |
| 2010 | |
| 2016 | | | Secretary of State for International Trade (2016–2023) | Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016–2023) |
| 2018 | Secretary 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) |
| 2021 | Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (2021–2024) |
| 2023 | Secretary 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) |
| 2024 | Secretary 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:
Notes and References
- act . 1978 . Interpretation Act 1978 . 30 . 1 . cs1 . 17 November 2023. "Secretary of State" means one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State..
- 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..
- 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.
- 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;.
- http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm71/7170/7170.pdf The Governance of Britain
- Web site: Kelly . Richard . 17 November 2023 . Ministers in the House of Lords . 30 November 2023 . House of Commons Library.
- 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. .
- Book: Brazier, Rodney . Ministers of the Crown . 1997 . Clarendon . 0-19-825988-3 . Oxford . 9–10 . 37301571.
- Book: Pickrill, DA. Ministers of the Crown. Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1981. 0-7100-0916-X.
- 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..
- Web site: Ministers . 31 March 2021 . gov.uk.
- Web site: Torrance. David. 19 June 2019. Introduction to devolution in the UK. 8 February 2021. House of Commons Library. 12.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/15 Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964
- [Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972]
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1976/1775/made The Secretary of State for Transport Order 1976
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2626/made The Transfer of Functions (Transport, Local Government and the Regions) Order 2002
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/2568/made The Secretaries of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Order 2001
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1836/made The Secretary of State for Education Order 2010
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/1397/made The Secretaries of State for Education and Skills and for Work and Pensions Order 2002
- 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.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/2128/made The Secretary of State for Justice Order 2007
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/378/made The Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care and for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Transfer of Functions (Commonhold Land) Order 2018
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/942/made The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020
- 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.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/992/made 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
- Web site: Duffy. Nick. 1 February 2020. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay exits cabinet as Boris Johnson shutters department. 31 March 2021. inews.co.uk.
- 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.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1265/contents/made The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021
