His Majesty's Paymaster General or HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the

Cabinet Office The Cabinet Office is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for supporting the prime minister and Cabinet. It is composed of various units that support Cabinet committees and which co-ordinate the delivery of government objecti ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. The incumbent Paymaster General is

Jeremy Quin Jeremy Mark Quin (born 24 September 1968) is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Horsham (UK Parliament constituency), Horsham since the 2015 United Kingdom general elec ...

MP.

History

The post was created in 1836 by the merger of the positions of the offices of the Paymaster of the Forces (1661–1836), the Treasurer of the Navy (1546–1835), the Paymaster and Treasurer of

Chelsea Hospital The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for some 300 veterans of the British Army. Founded as an almshouse, the ancient sense of the word "hospital", it is a site located on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea. It is an i ...

(responsible for Army pensions) (1681–1835) and the Treasurer of the Ordnance (1670–1835). Initially, the Paymaster General only had responsibilities in relation to the armed services but in 1848 two more offices were merged into that of Paymaster General: the Paymaster of Exchequer Bills (1723–1848) and the Paymaster of the Civil Service (1834–1848), the latter followed by its Irish counterpart in 1861. They thus became 'the principal paying agent of the government and the banker for all government departments except the revenue departments and the

National Debt A country's gross government debt (also called public debt, or sovereign debt) is the financial liabilities of the government sector. Changes in government debt over time reflect primarily borrowing due to past government deficits. A deficit oc ...

Office'. From 1848 to 1868, the post was held concurrently with that of Vice-President of the Board of Trade. The longest-serving holder of the post was

Dawn Primarolo Dawn Primarolo, Baroness Primarolo, (born 2 May 1954) is a Labour Party (UK), British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament for Bristol South (UK Parliament constituency), Bristol South ...

, whose portfolio covered

HM Revenue and Customs HM Revenue and Customs (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, or HMRC) is a non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial Departments of the United Kingdom Government, department of the His Majesty's Government, UK Government responsible fo ...

(formerly the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) and who served from 1999 to 2007.

Role

Today, the Paymaster General is usually a

minister without portfolio A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister who does not head a particular ministry. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet w ...

available for any duties which the government of the day may designate. The post may be combined with another office, or may be left unfilled. Though the Paymaster General was titular head of the Paymaster General's Office, their executive functions were delegated to the Assistant Paymaster General, a permanent

civil servant The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...

who (though acting in the name of the Paymaster General) was answerable to the

Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...

Office of HM Paymaster General

The Paymaster General was formerly in nominal charge (and at one time in actual charge) of the Office of HM Paymaster General (OPG), which held accounts at the

Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of ...

on behalf of government departments and selected other public bodies. Funds which were made available from the Consolidated Fund were then channelled into OPG accounts, from where they were used by the relevant body. OPG operated a full range of accounts and banking transaction services, including cheque and credit, BACS and

CHAPS Chaps ( or ) are sturdy coverings for the legs consisting of leggings and a belt. They are buckled on over trousers with the chaps' integrated belt, but unlike trousers, they have no seat (the term "assless chaps" is a tautology) and are not jo ...

services for its customers via an electronic banking system. Integration of OPG accounts held with commercial banks was provided by the private company Xafinity Paymaster which is now part of the

Equiniti Equiniti Group is a United Kingdom, British-based outsourcing business focused on financial and administration services. History The business has its origins in the stock transfer agent, share registration business of Lloyds Bank, Lloyds TSB w ...

group. However, in 2008, the government announced that the Office of the Paymaster General would be incorporated into a new body, the Government Banking Service, which also provides banking operations for HM Revenue & Customs and

National Savings and Investments National Savings and Investments (NS&I), formerly called the Post Office Savings Bank and National Savings, is a state-owned savings bank in the United Kingdom. It is both a non-ministerial government department and an executive agency of HM Treasu ...

. Following the Bank of England's decision to withdraw from providing retail banking services, retail banking and payment services for the GBS are provided by a range of financial institutions including

Barclays Barclays () is a British multinational universal bank, headquartered in London, England. Barclays operates as two divisions, Barclays UK and Barclays International, supported by a service company, Barclays Execution Services. Barclays traces ...

Citibank Citibank, N. A. (N. A. stands for " National Association") is the primary U.S. banking subsidiary of financial services multinational Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City ...

NatWest National Westminster Bank, commonly known as NatWest, is a major retail and commercial bank in the United Kingdom based in London, England. It was established in 1968 by the merger of National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank. In 2000, it ...

, and Worldpay, although the Bank of England still plays a role in managing the government's higher level accounts.

List of paymasters general

19th century

* Sir Henry Parnell, Bt. 1836–1841 * Edward Stanley 1841 * Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt. 1841–1845 *

Bingham Baring William Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton, (June 1799 – 23 March 1864) was a British businessman and a Whig politician who later became a Tory. Background and education William Bingham Baring was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in June ...

1845–1846 *

Thomas Babington Macaulay Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay, (; 25 October 1800 – 28 December 1859) was a British historian and Whig politician, who served as the Secretary at War between 1839 and 1841, and as the Paymaster-General between 1846 and 184 ...

1846–1848 *

Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, (11 May 181531 March 1891), styled Lord Leveson until 1846, was a British Liberal statesman and diplomat from the Leveson-Gower family. He is best remembered for his service as Secretary ...

1848–1852 * Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley 1852 *

Charles Abbot, 2nd Baron Colchester Admiral Charles Abbot, 2nd Baron Colchester PC (12 March 1798 – 18 October 1867), known as Charles Abbot before 1829, was a British naval commander and Conservative politician. Background and education Colchester was the son of Charles Abbo ...

1852 *Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley 1853–1855 * Edward Pleydell-Bouverie 1855 *

Robert Lowe Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke, GCB, PC (4 December 1811 – 27 July 1892), British statesman, was a pivotal conservative spokesman who helped shape British politics in the latter half of the 19th century. He held office under William E ...

1855–1858 *

Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore Richard John Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore PC FRS (4 April 1823 – 22 February 1866), styled Viscount Suirdale between 1832 and 1851, was a British Conservative politician. Background Donoughmore was the son of John Hely-Hutchins ...

1858–1859 *

Algernon Percy, Lord Lovaine Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley FSA (21 January 1750 – 21 October 1830), styled Lord Algernon Percy between 1766 and 1786 and known as the Lord Lovaine between 1786 and 1790, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 17 ...

1859 * James Wilson 1859 *

William Cowper William Cowper ( ; 26 November 1731 – 25 April 1800) was an English poet and Anglican hymnwriter. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scen ...

1859–1860 * William Hutt 1860–1865 * George Goschen 1865–1866 *

William Monsell William Monsell, 1st Baron Emly, PC (21 September 1812 – 20 April 1894) was an Anglo-Irish landowner and Liberal politician. He held a number of ministerial positions between 1852 and 1873, notably as President of the Board of Health in 18 ...

1866 *

Stephen Cave Sir Stephen Cave (28 December 1820 – 6 June 1880) was a British lawyer, writer and Conservative politician. He notably served as Paymaster-General between 1866 and 1868 and again between 1874 and 1880 and as Judge Advocate General between 187 ...

1866–1868 *

Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Earl of Dufferin Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava (21 June 182612 February 1902) was a British public servant and prominent member of Victorian society. In his youth he was a popular figure in the court of Queen Vict ...

1868–1872 * Hugh Childers 1872–1873 * William Adam 1873–1874 *Stephen Cave 1874–1880 * David Plunket 1880 *

George Glyn, 2nd Baron Wolverton George Grenfell Glyn, 2nd Baron Wolverton PC (10 February 1824 – 6 November 1887), was a British Liberal politician. He held office in three of the Liberal administrations of William Gladstone. Background Wolverton was the eldest of th ...

1880–1885 * Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp 1885–1886 *

Thomas Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 5th Baron Thurlow Thomas John Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 5th Baron Thurlow, PC, FRS (5 December 1838 – 12 March 1916), was a British Liberal politician who served as Paymaster-General in 1886. Family Thurlow was the younger son of Edward Thomas Hovell-T ...

1886 *Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp 1886–1887 * Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow 1887–1889 * Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey 1889–1890 * Robert Windsor-Clive, 14th Baron Windsor 1890–1892 *

Charles Seale-Hayne Charles Hayne Seale Hayne PC (22 October 1833 – 22 November 1903) of Fuge House in the parish of Blackawton and of Kingswear Castle, Dartmouth harbour, both in Devon, was a British businessman and Liberal politician, serving as Member of Pa ...

1892–1895 * John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun 1895–1899 * Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough 1899–1902

20th century

Savile Crossley Savile Brinton Crossley, 1st Baron Somerleyton (14 June 1857 – 25 February 1935), known as Sir Savile Crossley, Bt, from 1872 to 1916, was a British Liberal Unionist politician who served as Paymaster General from 1902 to 1905. Background C ...

1902–1905 *

Richard Causton Richard Causton may refer to: * Richard Causton, 1st Baron Southwark (1843–1929) * Richard Causton (composer) Richard Causton (born 1971) is an English composer and teacher. Biography Born in London, Richard Causton attended Quintin Kynaston ...

(1st Baron Southwark after 13 July 1910) 1905–1910 *

Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Ashby St Ledgers Ivor Churchill Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne, KP, PC (16 January 1873 – 14 June 1939), known as Lord Ashby St Ledgers from 1910 to 1914 and as Lord Wimborne from 1914 to 1918, was a British politician and one of the last Lords Lieutenant of ...

1910–1912 * Edward Strachey, 1st Baron Strachie 1912–1915 * Thomas Legh, 2nd Baron Newton 1915–1916 *

Arthur Henderson Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935) was a British iron moulder and Labour politician. He was the first Labour cabinet minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 and, uniquely, served three separate terms as Leader of th ...

1916 * Joseph Compton-Rickett 1916–1919 *

Tudor Walters Sir John Tudor Walters PC (25 February 1866 – 16 July 1933) was a Welsh architect, surveyor and Liberal Party politician. He served as Paymaster-General under David Lloyd George from 1919 to 1922 and once again briefly in 1931 under Ramsay M ...

1919–1922 *''Office vacant'' 1922–1923 *

Neville Chamberlain Arthur Neville Chamberlain (; 18 March 18699 November 1940) was a British politician of the Conservative Party who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. He is best known for his foreign policy of appeasemen ...

1923 * William Joynson-Hicks 1923 *

Archibald Boyd-Carpenter Major Sir Archibald Boyd Boyd-Carpenter (26 March 1873 – 27 May 1937) was a British Conservative Party politician. Career The fourth son of William Boyd-Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon and Canon of Westminster, Archibald Boyd-Carpenter was ed ...

1923–1924 * Harry Gosling 1924 *''Office vacant'' 1924–1925 * George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland 1925–1928 *

Richard Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow Richard William Alan Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow (23 August 1876 – 9 June 1945), styled Viscount Cranley until 1911, was a British peer, diplomat, parliamentary secretary and government minister. Background and education Viscount Cranle ...

1928–1929 * Sydney Arnold 1929–1931 *''Office vacant'' 1931 *Tudor Walters 1931 *

Ernest Lamb, 1st Baron Rochester Ernest Henry Lamb, 1st Baron Rochester, Order of St Michael and St George, CMG (4 September 1876 – 13 January 1955) was a British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal and National Labour Organisation, National Labour politician who served as Paymaster-Ge ...

1931–1935 * Robert Hutchison, 1st Baron Hutchison of Montrose 1935–1938 *

Geoffrey FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster Geoffrey William Richard Hugh FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster, KBE, PC (17 February 1906 – 26 August 1975) was a British peer and Conservative politician. Background Munster was the son of Major the Honourable Harold Edward FitzClarence ( ...

1938–1939 *

Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton, PC (4 April 1883 – 26 August 1962), styled Viscount Turnour until 1907, was an Irish peer and British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for 47 years, attaining the rare distinction of serving ...

1939 *''Office vacant'' 1939–1940 * Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne 1940 *''Office vacant'' 1940–1941 * Maurice Hankey 1941–1942 *

William Jowitt William Allen Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt, (15 April 1885 – 16 August 1957) was a British Liberal Party, National Labour and then Labour Party politician and lawyer who served as Lord Chancellor under Clement Attlee from 1945 to 1951. Backg ...

1942 *

Frederick Lindemann, 1st Baron Cherwell Frederick Alexander Lindemann, 1st Viscount Cherwell, ( ; 5 April 18863 July 1957) was a British physicist who was prime scientific adviser to Winston Churchill in World War II. Lindemann was a brilliant intellectual, who cut through bureauc ...

1942–1945 *''Office vacant'' 1945–1946 * Arthur Greenwood 9 July 1946 Lab *

Hilary Marquand Hilary Adair Marquand, (24 December 1901 – 6 November 1972) was a British economist and Labour Party politician. Life and career He was born in Cardiff, the son of Alfred Marquand of Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, a clerk in a coal exporting ...

5 March 1947 Lab * The Viscount Addison 2 July 1948 also Leader of the House of Lords Lab * The Lord Macdonald of Gwaenysgor 1 April 1949 Lab

21st century

List of shadow paymasters general

References

External links

Office of the Paymaster General
– archived version, as of June 2008. Since then the OPG website redirects to the new GBS site:

{{Cabinet Office United Kingdom Paymasters General Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom 1836 establishments in the United Kingdom