Secretary of State (United Kingdom)
The Secretary of State in the UK is a minister of the Cabinet within the British government. The term Minister of State is used for a position that would be comparable to a State Secretary in German-speaking countries.
The title was introduced by Elizabeth I (1533–1603) for the two civil servants who took care of the royal correspondence. When she took office in 1558, she made William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , her personal secretary. He was the first Secretary of State of England and became the Queen's closest confidante. He held the office until 1572.
Secretary of State in the current government
The following list includes all Secretary of State for the David Cameron government as of May 26, 2010.
designation | from | comment |
---|---|---|
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | 1968 | |
Secretary of State for the Home Department | 1782 | |
Secretary of State for Scotland | 1926 | |
Secretary of State for Defense | 1964 | |
Secretary of State for Wales | 1964 | |
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | 1968 | got the current name in 2001 |
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | 1972 | |
Secretary of State for Transport | 1976 | not used between 1979–1981 and 1997–2002 |
Secretary of State for Health | 1988 | |
Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport | 1992 | got the current name in 2010 |
Secretary of State for International Development | 1997 | |
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 2001 | |
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government | 2006 | |
Secretary of State for Justice | 2007 | |
Secretary of State for Education | 2010 | |
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills | 2007 | got the current name in 2009 |
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change | 2008 | |
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | 2016 |
List of previous names
designation | from ... to | comment |
---|---|---|
Secretary of State for the Northern Department | 1660-1782 | |
Secretary of State for the Southern Department | 1660-1782 | |
Secretary of State for the Colonies | 1768-1782 and 1854-1966 |
absorbed into Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs |
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | 1782-1968 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |
Secretary of State for War | 1794-1801 and 1854-1964 |
absorbed into Secretary of State for Defense |
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | 1801-1854 | divided into Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for the Colonies |
Secretary of State for India | 1858-1947 | 1935 renamed Secretary of State for India and Burma |
Secretary of State for Air | 1918-1964 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Defense |
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs | 1925-1947 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations |
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | 1947-1966 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs |
Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development | 1963-1964 | |
Secretary of State for Education and Science | 1964-1992 | renamed Secretary of State for Education |
Secretary of State for Economic Affairs | 1964-1969 | |
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs | 1966-1968 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |
Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity | 1968-1970 | renamed Secretary of State for Employment |
Secretary of State for Social Services | 1968-1988 | |
Secretary of State for the Environment | 1970-1997 | renamed Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions |
Secretary of State for Employment | 1970-1995 | incorporated into Secretary of State for Education and Employment |
Secretary of State for Energy | 1974-1992 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Trade and Industry |
Secretary of State for Trade | 1974-1983 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Trade and Industry |
Secretary of State for Industry | 1974-1983 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Trade and Industry |
Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection | 1974-1979 | |
Secretary of State for Social Security | 1988-2001 | renamed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
Secretary of State for Education | 1992-1995 | incorporated into Secretary of State for Education and Employment |
Secretary of State for National Heritage | 1992-1997 | renamed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport |
Secretary of State for Education and Employment | 1995-2001 | divided into Secretary of State for Education and Skills and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | 1997-2001 | divided into Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs | 2003-2007 | renamed Secretary of State for Justice |
Secretary of State for Education and Skills | 1964-2007 | divided into Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills |
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | 1970-2007 | renamed Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform |
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform | 2007-2009 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills |
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills | 2007-2009 | absorbed into Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills |
Web links
- Website of the Cabinet Office
Individual evidence
- ^ Secretary of State . British Parliament, London , accessed June 1, 2010 .
- ↑ Elizabeth's England . National Maritime Museum, Greenwich , accessed May 31, 2010 .
- ^ Government ministers and responsibilities . Cabinet Office, London , accessed June 1, 2010 .