Ministerial role in the British government
The Minister of State for Social Security and Disability is a junior minister in the Department for Work and Pensions of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for disabled people.[1] The role has also been known as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, Health and Work.
The current holder is Sir Stephen Timms of the Labour Party.[2]
Current Portfolio
The minister's responsibilities includes the following:[1]
- Cross-government disability issues
- Work and health strategy, including sponsorship of the Joint Work and Health Unit
- Disability employment, including Disability Confident, Work Choice, Access to Work, the Work and Health Programme and mental health in the workplace
- Support for those at risk of falling out of work, including occupational health and Statutory Sick Pay
- Financial support for sick and disabled claimants, including within:
- Universal Credit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Carer's Allowance
- Specific welfare and health-related issues, including Motability and arms-length compensation schemes
- Oversight of the Health and Safety Executive and the Office for Nuclear Regulation
List of ministers
- 11 March 1974 – 1979: Alf Morris, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Disablement) at the Department of Health and Social Security[3]
- 7 May 1979 – 1981: Reg Prentice, Minister of State (Social Security), DHSS[4]
- 5 January 1981 – 1983: Hugh Rossi, Minister of State for Social Security and the Disabled (DHSS)[5]
- 13 June 1983 – 1984: Tony Newton, Minister for the Disabled (Parliamentary Under-Secretary), DHSS[6]
- 11 September 1984 – 1986: Tony Newton, Minister of State for Social Security and the Disabled (DHSS)[6]
- 1986 – 1987 general election: John Major, Minister of State for Social Security[7] and the Disabled (DHSS)[8][9][10]
- 1987[8]–1994: Nicholas Scott, as Minister of State, Department of Social Security[11]
- 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995: William Hague, Minister of State, DSS (with responsibility for Social Security and Disabled People)[12]
- 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997: Alistair Burt, Minister for Disabled People (Minister of State, DSS)[13]
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) — 6 May 1997 – 28 October 1998
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education and Employment) (Employment and Equal Opportunities) — 28 July 1998 – 10 June 2001
See also
References