Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales explained

Post:
Parliamentary Under-Secretary
Body:State for Wales
Insignia:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Insigniacaption:Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Department:Wales Office
Incumbent:Dame Nia Griffith
Incumbentsince:9 July 2024
Appointer:The King
Termlength:At His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural:Goronwy Roberts
Formation:17 October 1964
Website:Office of the Secretary of State for Wales

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Welsh: Is-ysgrifennydd Gwladol Seneddol Cymru), often referred to simply as the Welsh Office Minister, is a junior ministerial post (of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State rank) in the Government of the United Kingdom, supporting the Secretary of State for Wales.[1]

History

A post of Minister of Welsh Affairs was created in 1951 under the Home Secretary and was upgraded to Minister of State level in 1954. On 17 October 1964 The post was further upgraded to Secretary of State for Wales, which was a cabinet level role, being assisted by a junior minister.

Between 1964 and the establishment of devolution in 1999 there were regularly two junior ministers within the Welsh Office, often but not always consisting of a Minister of State and a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, with each assigned specific roles (health, education etc.). Following devolution and the transfer of powers from Westminster to the National Assembly, there was only one Under-Secretary of State working directly with the Secretary of State.

A second[2] (and unpaid) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State role was created in 2012 during the Coalition Government with one minister serving in the Commons and one in the Lords. This situation was maintained following the 2015 general election with two Under-Secretaries of State, one being paid by the Welsh Office and one unpaid (or paid by another government department for a joint role). Following the appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Nick Bourne resigned and no replacement Minister was appointed.

Ministers of Welsh Affairs (1951–1964)

For a list of ministers of Welsh affairs see: Ministers of Welsh Affairs (1951–1964)

Minister of State for Wales in the House of Commons (1964–1999)

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Wales in the House of Commons (1974–1999)

Junior Welsh Office Ministers in the House of Commons (1999–present)

Colour key

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Wales in the House of Commons (1999–present)

NamePortraitTerm of officePolitical partyP.M.Welsh Sec.
29 July 199911 June 2001LabourTony BlairPeter Hain
Don Touhig[8] 11 June 2001May 2005Labour
Nick Ainger[9] May 200527 June 2007Labour
Huw Irranca-Davies[10] 29 June 2007 5 October 2008LabourGordon BrownPeter Hain & Paul Murphy
Wayne David[11] 5 October 2008 11 May 2010Labour
David Jones11 May 20104 September 2012ConservativeDavid CameronCheryl Gillan
Stephen Crabb
Also served as an Assistant Government Whip
4 September 201215 July 2014ConservativeDavid Jones
Alun Cairns15 July 201419 March 2016ConservativeStephen Crabb
Guto Bebb19 March 20169 January 2018ConservativeAlun Cairns
Theresa May
Stuart Andrew9 January 2018[12] 19 July 2018Conservative
Mims Davies
Unpaid by Wales Office.
Also serving as Assistant Government Whip
26 July 20185 November 2018Conservative
Nigel Adams
Unpaid by Wales Office.
Also serving as Assistant Government Whip
5 November 20183 April 2019[13] Conservative
Kevin Foster[14]
Unpaid by Wales Office.
Also serving as Assistant Government Whip
4 April 201916 December 2019Conservative
Boris Johnson
David Davies[15]
16 December 201925 October 2022ConservativeSimon Hart
Robert Buckland
Liz Truss
James Davies27 October 202213 November 2023ConservativeRishi SunakDavid Davies
Fay Jones13 November 2023[16] 5 July 2024Conservative
Nia Griffith9 July 2024IncumbentLabourSir Keir StarmerJo Stevens

Junior Welsh Office Ministers in the House of Lords (2012–present)

Colour key

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Wales in the House of Lords (2012–present)

NamePortraitTerm of officePolitical partyPrime MinisterSecretary of State
The Baroness Randerson
Unpaid
5 September 20128 May 2015Liberal DemocratsDavid Cameron
(Coalition)
David Jones & Stephen Crabb
The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Also served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Energy and Climate Change (2015–16) and for
Housing,Communities and Local Government (from 2016)
12 May 201517 June 2017ConservativeDavid Cameron
(II)
Theresa May
(I)
Stephen Crabb & Alun Cairns
The Lord Duncan of Springbank
Also served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
17 June 201727 November 2017ConservativeTheresa May
(II)
Alun Cairns
The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
And Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing,
Communities and Local Government
27 November 201726 July 2019[17] Conservative
Office not in use26 July 2019PresentConservative

Notes

1.Promoted to Minister of State in 1987.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State . UK Government . 26 February 2019.
  2. News: Wales Office: Lib Dem Baroness Randerson made minister . . 5 September 2012.
  3. Web site: TheyWorkForYou.com . Lord Rowlands . 23 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Ian Grist . UK Parliament . 28 April 2022.
  5. Web site: Nicholas Bennett . UK Parliament . 28 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Contact information for Lord Hain - MPS and Lords - UK Parliament.
  7. Web site: Ministerial Departures since 1997 - Parliamentary Information List. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 24 February 2009.
  8. Web site: Contact information for Lord Touhig - MPS and Lords - UK Parliament.
  9. Web site: Parliamentary career for Nick Ainger - MPS and Lords - UK Parliament.
  10. News: Welsh MPs handed reshuffle roles . BBC News . 26 February 2019.
  11. News: Wayne David MP . UK Parliament . 26 February 2019.
  12. News: Mims Davies is new Wales Office minister . BBC News . 22 November 2018.
  13. Adams . Nigel . nadams . 1113359638769164289 . Following yesterday's cabinet, this morning I've been to Downing Street & resigned my position as UK Govt Minister for Wales & Govt Whip. I'm grateful to the PM for the opportunity to serve as a Minister since 2017 & will continue to serve my constituents from the backbenches. https://t.co/W15xS4cOBP . 3 April 2019 . 29 December 2020.
  14. News: Kevin Foster announced as new junior Wales Office minister. BBC News. 4 April 2019.
  15. News: Welsh Secretary Simon Hart promises no 'petty arguments' with Cardiff Bay. BBC News. 17 December 2019.
  16. Web site: Ministerial appointments: November 2023 . Gov.uk . 14 November 2023.
  17. Bourne . Nick . lordnickbourne . 1154749762672967686 . I have resigned for the first time in my life and it is from a job which I really love and enjoy and which I had just been offered once more; but I cannot accept a no deal on Oct 31st and so I go 1/2 . 29 December 2020.