The secretary of state for work and pensions, also referred to as the work and pensions secretary, is a secretary of state in the

Government of the United Kingdom His Majesty's Government, abbreviated to HM Government or otherwise UK Government, is the central government, central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

, with overall responsibility for the business of the

Department for Work and Pensions The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for welfare spending, welfare, pensions and child maintenance ...

. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office holder works alongside the other work and pensions ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for work and pensions. The performance of the secretary of state is also scrutinised by the Work and Pensions Select Committee. The office is currently held by Liz Kendall.

Responsibilities

Corresponding to what is generally known as a labour minister in many other countries, the work and pensions secretary's remit includes: * Support people of working age * Oversight of employers and pensions * Fiscal Consolidation * Providing support for

disability Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be Cognitive disability, cognitive, Developmental disability, d ...

* Support for families and children

History

It was created on 8 June 2001 by the merger of the employment division of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. The Ministry of Pensions was created in 1916 to handle the payment of war pensions to former members of the Armed Forces and their dependants. In 1944 a separate Ministry of National Insurance (titled the Ministry of Social Insurance until 17 November 1944) was formed; the two merged in 1953 as the

Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

. In 1966 the Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Social Security, but this was short-lived, as the ministry merged with the Ministry of Health in 1968 to form the Department of Health and Social Security. Confusingly, the secretary of state responsible for this department was titled the Secretary of State for Social Services. The department was de-merged in 1988, creating the separate Department of Health and Department of Social Security.

List of ministers and secretaries of state

Colour key (for political parties):
/ / / /

Minister of Pensions (1916–1953)

Minister of Social Insurance/National Insurance (1944–1953)

Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1953–1966)

Minister of Social Security (1966–1968)

Secretary of State for Social Services (1968–1988)

''Post split into the Secretary of State for Social Security and the Secretary of State for Health in 1988.''

Secretary of State for Social Security (1988–2001)

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2001–present)

* Incumbent's length of term last updated: .

Timeline

References

{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom Work and Pensions, Secretary of State Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions