Minister
In the UK government, a minister is a Member of Parliament (MP) or a member of the House of Lords who holds a position in the government, usually responsible for a particular department or area of policy.
There are several levels of minister:
- Prime Minister. The head of government, leading overall policy and decision-making.
- Secretaries of State. Senior ministers who head government departments.
- Ministers of State. More senior junior ministers, usually overseeing a major part of a department’s work.
- Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State. Often just called junior ministers, with responsibility for narrower areas.
Ministers relevant to the construction industry include:
- Construction Minister. There is no official title of construction minister within the UK government, however, there is generally a minister whose role includes construction (and generally infrastructure). As part of their role, they generally serve as co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council.
- Housing Secretary. Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government is sometimes referred to as the ‘Housing Secretary’.
- Minister of State for Housing. The Housing Secretary is supported by a Minister of State for Housing, sometimes referred to as the Housing and Planning Minister.
- Building Safety Minister. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy).
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