Although not paid other than their salary as an MP,[2] PPSs help the government track backbench opinion in Parliament. They are subject to some restrictions, as outlined in the Ministerial Code of the British government, but are not members of the Government.[3][1]
A PPS can sit on select committees but must avoid "associating themselves with recommendations critical of, or embarrassing to the Government", and must not make statements or ask questions on matters affecting the minister's department.[4] In particular, the PPS in the Department for Communities and Local Government may not participate in planning decisions or in the consideration of planning cases.[5][6]
PPSs are not members of the government, and all efforts are made to avoid these positions being referred to as such. They are instead considered more simply as normal Members. However, their close confidence with ministers does impose obligations on every PPS. The guidelines surrounding the divulging of classified information by ministers to PPSs are rigid.[7]
Ministers choose their own PPSs, but they are expected to consult the Chief Whip and must seek the written approval for each candidate from the prime minister.[8]
Although not on the government payroll, PPSs are expected to act as part of the payroll vote, voting in line with the government on every division.[9][10]
When on official Departmental business, a PPS receives travel and subsistence allowance paid out of government funds, as with formal members of the government. This makes the PPS the only type of unpaid advisor who receives reimbursement in the course of duty.[11]
Overseas travel for PPSs must be approved by the Prime Minister and is granted only in exceptional cases.[11]
The role in the career of MPs
The role of PPS is seen as a starting point for many MPs who aspire to become ministers themselves.[12] According to Philip W. Buck, a professor of political science at Stanford University:
Nine-tenths of the M.P.s who first won seats in the House of Commons in 1918 or thereafter, and who held some ministerial office in the years from 1918 to 1955, began their progress towards posts in a ministry or a Cabinet by serving as parliamentary secretaries or as junior ministers... Recruitment to the front bench clearly begins with these two offices.[13]
A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a thankless job. Despite having risen to the rank of MP, those with Governmental ambitions will need to pay their dues once more – as a bag carrier. Admittedly, PPS is a bit more than that – you are supposed to be the eyes and ears, reporting back to your boss all the gossip, what people are saying about your work in the bars and cafes of Westminster.[14]
Current Parliamentary Private Secretaries
The following is a list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries in the UK, since the swearing in of the Truss ministry on 6 September 2022. The Leader of the Opposition usually has at least one Parliamentary Private Secretary as well.[15]
Johnson ministry (2022)
The following is a list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries under the Second Johnson ministry as of April 2022.[16]
^ "Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPSs)". bbc online. 2007-03-28.
^Buck, Philip W. (1963). "The Early Start toward Cabinet Office, 1918–55". The Western Political Quarterly. 16 (3): 624–632. doi:10.2307/444766. JSTOR 444766.
^"Monday, July 10, 2006". Thirsk and Malton Constituency Labour Party Blog. 2007-03-28.[dead link]
^"Parliamentary Private Secretary - Who are they and what do they do?". politics.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
^"Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resign as Boris Johnson apologises for Chris Pincher 'mistake' – UK politics live". the Guardian. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
^"Crisis for Boris Johnson as Sunak and Javid lead wave of resignations from government". Sky News. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
^"Boris Johnson: Virginia Crosbie quits and calls for PM to resign". BBC News. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
^"Keir Starmer appoints northern MP to build bridges with backbenchers". the Guardian. 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
External links
BBC: A-Z of Politics
TheyWorkForYou: List of MPs and the posts that they hold
Parliamentary private secretaries, Institute for Government explainer
April 24, 2023
parliamentary, private, secretary, this, article, about, government, office, similar, positions, other, countries, parliamentary, secretary, confused, with, principal, private, secretary, member, parliament, united, kingdom, acts, unpaid, assistant, minister, . This article is about a UK government office For similar positions in other countries see Parliamentary secretary Not to be confused with Principal Private Secretary A Parliamentary Private Secretary PPS is a Member of Parliament MP in the United Kingdom who acts as an unpaid assistant to a minister or shadow minister They are selected from backbench MPs as the eyes and ears of the minister in the House of Commons 1 PPSs are junior to Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State a ministerial post salaried by one or more departments Contents 1 Duties and powers of a PPS 2 The role in the career of MPs 3 Current Parliamentary Private Secretaries 4 Johnson ministry 2022 5 Johnson ministry 2021 6 Notable Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksDuties and powers of a PPS EditAlthough not paid other than their salary as an MP 2 PPSs help the government track backbench opinion in Parliament They are subject to some restrictions as outlined in the Ministerial Code of the British government but are not members of the Government 3 1 A PPS can sit on select committees but must avoid associating themselves with recommendations critical of or embarrassing to the Government and must not make statements or ask questions on matters affecting the minister s department 4 In particular the PPS in the Department for Communities and Local Government may not participate in planning decisions or in the consideration of planning cases 5 6 PPSs are not members of the government and all efforts are made to avoid these positions being referred to as such They are instead considered more simply as normal Members However their close confidence with ministers does impose obligations on every PPS The guidelines surrounding the divulging of classified information by ministers to PPSs are rigid 7 Ministers choose their own PPSs but they are expected to consult the Chief Whip and must seek the written approval for each candidate from the prime minister 8 Although not on the government payroll PPSs are expected to act as part of the payroll vote voting in line with the government on every division 9 10 When on official Departmental business a PPS receives travel and subsistence allowance paid out of government funds as with formal members of the government This makes the PPS the only type of unpaid advisor who receives reimbursement in the course of duty 11 Overseas travel for PPSs must be approved by the Prime Minister and is granted only in exceptional cases 11 The role in the career of MPs EditThe role of PPS is seen as a starting point for many MPs who aspire to become ministers themselves 12 According to Philip W Buck a professor of political science at Stanford University Nine tenths of the M P s who first won seats in the House of Commons in 1918 or thereafter and who held some ministerial office in the years from 1918 to 1955 began their progress towards posts in a ministry or a Cabinet by serving as parliamentary secretaries or as junior ministers Recruitment to the front bench clearly begins with these two offices 13 After the leaking of party details in emails associated with Desmond Swayne PPS to David Cameron a writer of the Thirsk and Malton Labour Party Constituency Blog commented A Parliamentary Private Secretary PPS is a thankless job Despite having risen to the rank of MP those with Governmental ambitions will need to pay their dues once more as a bag carrier Admittedly PPS is a bit more than that you are supposed to be the eyes and ears reporting back to your boss all the gossip what people are saying about your work in the bars and cafes of Westminster 14 Current Parliamentary Private Secretaries EditThe following is a list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries in the UK since the swearing in of the Truss ministry on 6 September 2022 The Leader of the Opposition usually has at least one Parliamentary Private Secretary as well 15 Johnson ministry 2022 EditThe following is a list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries under the Second Johnson ministry as of April 2022 16 Parliamentary Private Secretaries Office or ministerial team Incumbent Parliamentary Private SecretaryPrime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Union and Minister for the Civil Service See also 1 Boris Johnson Alexander StaffordMinistry of JusticeDeputy Prime Minister Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab Mike WoodJulie MarsonMinisterial team Vacant HM TreasuryChancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi Vacant Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke Vacant Ministerial team Vacant Foreign Commonwealth and Development OfficeSecretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss John LamontMinisterial team Laura FarrisDean RussellHome OfficeSecretary of State for the Home Department Priti Patel Gagan MohindraHome Office ministerial team Matt VickersLuke EvansMinistry of DefenceSecretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace Suzanne WebbMinisterial team Vacant Department for Levelling Up Housing and CommunitiesSecretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Greg Clark Vacant Ministerial team Vacant Vacant Department for Health and Social CareSecretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay Vacant Ministerial team Vacant Vacant Cabinet OfficeMinister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay Jane HuntMinisterial team See also 2 Ian LevyCOP26 President and Minister of State Alok Sharma Katherine FletcherMinister without Portfolio Co Chair of the Conservative Party Vacant Vacant Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency Jacob Rees Mogg Gareth BaconMinister without Portfolio and Minister of State Nigel Adams Brendan Clarke SmithDepartment for Business Energy and Industrial StrategySecretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng Vacant Ministerial team Felicity BuchanDepartment for International TradeSecretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade Anne Marie Trevelyan Vacant Ministerial team Vacant Department for Work and PensionsSecretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey Flick DrummondMinisterial team Andy CarterDepartment for EducationSecretary of State for Education James Cleverly Vacant Ministerial team Vacant Department for Environment Food and Rural AffairsSecretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice Vacant Ministerial team Mark Jenkinson Vacant Department for TransportSecretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps Vacant Ministerial team Vacant 17 Northern Ireland OfficeSecretary of State for Northern Ireland Shailesh Vara Vacant 18 Ministerial team Vacant Office of the Secretary of State for ScotlandSecretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack Vacant Office of the Secretary of State for WalesSecretary of State for Wales Robert Buckland Vacant 19 Office of the Leader of the House of LordsLeader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Chris ClarksonDepartment for Digital Culture Media and SportSecretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport Nadine Dorries Paul BristowMinisterial team Simon BaynesRichard HoldenOffice of the Leader of the House of CommonsLeader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council Mark Spencer vacant Attorney General s OfficeAttorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland Suella Braverman Alberto Costa See Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister See Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office Johnson ministry 2021 EditPost or ministerial team Parliamentary Private SecretaryPrime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service and Minister for the Union Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Alex Burghart MPTrudy Harrison MPChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP Kevin Hollinrake MPCabinet Office ministerial team Jane Hunt MPChancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP James Cartlidge MPHM Treasury ministerial team Claire Coutinho MPChief Secretary to the Treasury Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP Craig Williams MPSecretary of State for the Home Department Rt Hon Priti Patel MP Mike Wood MPHome Office ministerial team Andrew Lewer MPSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State Rt Hon Liz Truss MP Bim Afolami MPForeign and Commonwealth Office ministerial team Joy Morrisey MPSecretary of State for Defence Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP Jack Brereton MPMinistry of Defence ministerial team Natalie Elphicke MPLord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP Chris Clarkson MPMinistry of Justice ministerial team Julie Marson MPSecretary of State for Health and Social Care Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP Steve Double MPDepartment of Health and Social Care ministerial team Virginia Crosbie MPSecretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP Ben Bradley MPDepartment for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy ministerial team Jo Gideon MPSecretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP Andrea Jenkyns MPMinistry of Housing Communities and Local Government ministerial team Jacob Young MPEnding rough sleeping Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government Adam Holloway MPSecretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP John Lamont MPSecretary of State for International Trade President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities Rt Hon Liz Truss MP David Duguid MPSecretary of State for Education Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP Scott Mann MPDepartment for Education ministerial team Angela Richardson MPSecretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Rt Hon George Eustice MP Caroline Ansell MPDepartment for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ministerial team Fay Jones MPSecretary of State for Transport Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Robert Courts MPDepartment for Transport ministerial team Laura Trott MPSecretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Anne Marie Trevelyan MP Flick Drummond MPSecretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP Bim Afolami MPSecretary of State for Scotland Rt Hon Alister Jack MP Ruth Edwards MPSecretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Simon Hart MP Sarah Atherton MPSecretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP Sarah Dines MPLord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Jacob Rees Mogg MP Lucy Allan MPLeader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Chris Green MPAttorney General Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP Alberto Costa MPMinister without Portfolio and Conservative Party Chairman Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP Damien Moore MPThe Leader of the Opposition Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB QC MP Sharon Hodgson MP 20 Notable Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister EditMain article Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister While giving the holder a close up view of the workings of government at the highest levels relatively few Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister seem to have gone on to serve at the highest level of government themselves although Sir Alec Douglas Home served as Prime Minister in 1963 4 while Anthony Barber was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1970 to 1974 Robert Carr Home Secretary 1972 4 and Christopher Soames Peter Shore and Gavin Williamson the future Secretary of State for Education all went on to be senior Cabinet ministers J C C Davidson to Bonar Law Alec Douglas Home Lord Dunglass to Neville Chamberlain 1937 1940 Brendan Bracken to Winston Churchill 1940 1941 Christopher Soames to Winston Churchill 1952 1955 Robert Carr to Sir Anthony Eden 1955 Anthony Barber to Harold Macmillan 1957 1959 Peter Shore to Harold Wilson 1965 1966 Timothy Kitson to Edward Heath 1970 1974 Ian Gow to Margaret Thatcher 1979 1983 Peter Morrison to Margaret Thatcher 1990 Graham Bright to John Major 1990 1994 Gavin Williamson to David Cameron 2013 2016 George Hollingbery to Theresa May 2016 2017See also EditParliamentary secretary Permanent secretary Private secretary Principal Private SecretaryReferences Edit a b Maer Lucinda 4 September 2017 Parliamentary Private Secretaries House of Commons Library 4 Parliamentary Private Secretary Explore Parliament 2007 03 28 Archived from the original on 2007 06 26 Ministerial Code PDF gov uk December 2022 Retrieved 10 February 2023 The Ministerial Code 3 10 Ministerial Code 3 12 Guidance on propriety issues in handling planning casework in Communities and Local Government Communities and Local Government 2007 03 28 Archived from the original on 2007 02 05 The Ministerial Code 3 8 The Ministerial Code 3 6 The Ministerial Code 3 9 Brazier Rodney 2020 09 07 Rodney Brazier Why is Her Majesty s Government so big UK Constitutional Law Association Retrieved 2020 09 16 a b The Ministerial Code 3 11 Parliamentary Private Secretaries PPSs bbc online 2007 03 28 Buck Philip W 1963 The Early Start toward Cabinet Office 1918 55 The Western Political Quarterly 16 3 624 632 doi 10 2307 444766 JSTOR 444766 Monday July 10 2006 Thirsk and Malton Constituency Labour Party Blog 2007 03 28 dead link Parliamentary Private Secretary Who are they and what do they do politics co uk Retrieved 28 April 2022 Parliamentary Private Secretaries April 2022 PDF Government of the United Kingdom April 2022 Retrieved 28 April 2022 Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resign as Boris Johnson apologises for Chris Pincher mistake UK politics live the Guardian 2022 07 05 Retrieved 2022 07 05 Crisis for Boris Johnson as Sunak and Javid lead wave of resignations from government Sky News Retrieved 2022 07 05 Boris Johnson Virginia Crosbie quits and calls for PM to resign BBC News 2022 07 06 Retrieved 2022 07 06 Keir Starmer appoints northern MP to build bridges with backbenchers the Guardian 2021 05 14 Retrieved 2021 05 14 External links EditBBC A Z of Politics TheyWorkForYou List of MPs and the posts that they hold Ministerial code related to PPSs Parliamentary private secretaries Institute for Government explainer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parliamentary Private Secretary amp oldid 1140748156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
