Secretary of State (United Kingdom)

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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

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Secretary of State . British Parliament, London , accessed June 1, 2010 .
  2. Elizabeth's England . National Maritime Museum, Greenwich , accessed May 31, 2010 .
  3. ^ Government ministers and responsibilities . Cabinet Office, London , accessed June 1, 2010 .