Parliamentary secretary - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Officer of Cabinet for Parliament duties}}
	{{Distinguish\|Parliamentary assistant}}		{{Distinguish\|Parliamentary assistant}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}
	A '''parliamentary secretary''' is a [[member of Parliament]] in the [[Westminster system]] who assists a more senior [[political minister\|minister]] with their duties. In several countries, the position has been re-designated as '''assistant minister'''.		A '''parliamentary secretary''' is a [[member of Parliament]] in the [[Westminster system]] who assists a more senior [[political minister\|minister]] with their duties. In several countries, the position has been re-designated as '''assistant minister'''.

	In the parliamentary systems of several [[Commonwealth of Nations\|Commonwealth]] countries, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[India]] and [[Singapore]], it is customary for the [[prime minister]] to appoint parliamentary secretaries from their [[political party]] in [[parliament]] to assist [[Cabinet (government)\|cabinet]] ministers with their work. The role of parliamentary secretaries varies under different prime ministers. The post has often served as a training ground for future ministers.		In the parliamentary systems of several [[Commonwealth of Nations\|Commonwealth]] countries, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[India]] and [[Singapore]], it is customary for the [[prime minister]] to appoint parliamentary secretaries from their [[political party]] in [[parliament]] to assist [[Cabinet (government)\|cabinet]] ministers with their work. The role of parliamentary secretaries varies under different prime ministers. The post has often served as a training ground for future ministers.

	~~== In the United Kingdom ==~~
	In the [[United Kingdom]], Parliamentary Secretary (in full, usually [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] in those departments headed by a Secretary of State) is the third level of government [[Political minister\|minister]], below [[Minister of State]] and [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)\|Secretary of State]] (or another minister of Secretary of State rank, such as the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]). Not all departments have all three levels of minister.

	A [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS), on the other hand, is a Member of Parliament who acts as an unpaid assistant to an individual minister, but has no ministerial role, although is expected to support the government at all times.

	== In the Commonwealth ==		== In the Commonwealth ==
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	During [[Jean Chrétien]]'s term as [[Prime Minister of Canada]], parliamentary secretaries were set to two-year terms and the post was used as a reward for weary [[backbenchers]]. Their duty was to answer questions and table reports on behalf of ministers when they were unable to be present in the house.		During [[Jean Chrétien]]'s term as [[Prime Minister of Canada]], parliamentary secretaries were set to two-year terms and the post was used as a reward for weary [[backbenchers]]. Their duty was to answer questions and table reports on behalf of ministers when they were unable to be present in the house.

	Chrétien's successor as Canadian Prime Minister, [[Paul Martin]], when sworn-in in 2003, promised a new role for parliamentary secretaries. They would now be sworn into the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada\|privy council]], giving them access to some secret documents, and allowing them to attend [[Canadian Cabinet]] meetings and be assigned specific files by ministers. This replaced the positions of [[Secretary of State (Canada)\|Secretaries of State]] which had been employed under Chrétien.		Chrétien's successor as Canadian Prime Minister, [[Paul Martin]], when sworn in in 2003, promised a new role for parliamentary secretaries. They would now be sworn into the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada\|privy council]], giving them access to some secret documents, and allowing them to attend [[Canadian Cabinet]] meetings and be assigned specific files by ministers. This replaced the positions of [[Secretary of State (Canada)\|Secretaries of State]] which had been employed under Chrétien.

	===Malaysia===		===Malaysia===
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	=== Singapore ===		=== Singapore ===
	{{Expand section\|date=May 2021}}		{{Expand section\|date=May 2021}}

			=== United Kingdom ===
			In the [[United Kingdom]], Parliamentary Secretary (in full, usually [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] in those departments headed by a Secretary of State) is the third level of government [[Political minister\|minister]], below [[Minister of State]] and [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)\|Secretary of State]] (or another minister of Secretary of State rank, such as the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]). Not all departments have all three levels of minister.

			A [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS), on the other hand, is a Member of Parliament who acts as an unpaid assistant to an individual minister, but has no ministerial role, although is expected to support the government at all times.

	== Outside the Commonwealth ==		== Outside the Commonwealth ==
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	=== Germany ===		=== Germany ===
	{{Main\|Parliamentary State Secretary}}		{{Main\|Parliamentary State Secretary}}
	A [[Parliamentary State Secretary]] (''{{Lang\|de\|Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär, PStS}}'') is a member of the [[Bundestag]] given a portfolio to assist a [[Minister (government)\|Minister]] with running a [[Ministry (government department)\|government ministry]]. The position is roughly analogous to deputy ministers.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Langenbacher\|first1=Eric\|title=The German Polity\|last2=Conradt\|first2=David P.\|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]\|edition=11th\|location=New York\|p=272\|authorlink1=Eric Langenbacher\|authorlink2=David P. Conradt}}</ref>		A [[Parliamentary State Secretary]] (''{{Lang\|de\|Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär, PStS}}'') is a member of the [[Bundestag]] given a portfolio to assist a [[Minister (government)\|Minister]] with running a [[Ministry (government department)\|government ministry]]. The position is roughly analogous to deputy ministers.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Langenbacher\|first1=Eric\|title=The German Polity\|last2=Conradt\|first2=David P.\|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]\|edition=11th\|location=New York\|page=272\|authorlink1=Eric Langenbacher\|authorlink2=David P. Conradt}}</ref>

	In 2021, there are 36 parliamentary state secretaries in the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet\|Merkel IV Cabinet]]. The position was first introduced in 1967 to help younger politicians gain experience for future ministerial roles.<ref>{{cite web\|last=\|date=\|year=\|title=Die Finanzierung der Parlamentarischen Staatssekretäre – Die wichtigsten Fakten\|url=https://steuerzahler.de/aktion-position/politikfinanzierung/parlamentarischestaatssekretaere/?L=0\|url-status=\|archive-url=\|archive-date=\|access-date=\|publisher=\|pages=\|language=\|format=\|quote=\|periodical={{ill\|Bund der Steuerzahler Deutschland\|de}}}}</ref>		In 2021, there are 36 parliamentary state secretaries in the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet\|Merkel IV Cabinet]]. The position was first introduced in 1967 to help younger politicians gain experience for future ministerial roles.<ref>{{cite web\|last=\|date=\|year=\|title=Die Finanzierung der Parlamentarischen Staatssekretäre – Die wichtigsten Fakten\|url=https://steuerzahler.de/aktion-position/politikfinanzierung/parlamentarischestaatssekretaere/?L=0\|url-status=\|archive-url=\|archive-date=\|access-date=\|publisher=\|pages=\|language=\|format=\|quote=\|periodical={{ill\|Bund der Steuerzahler Deutschland\|de}}}}</ref>
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	* [[Parliamentary assistant]]		* [[Parliamentary assistant]]
	*[[Permanent secretary]]		*[[Permanent secretary]]
	*[[Private ~~Secretary~~]]		*[[Private secretary]]
	*[[Undersecretary]]		*[[Undersecretary]]

imported>Whizz40: /* In the Commonwealth */ Add section on Singapore to the body of the article, tag for expansion

2021-05-17T11:29:46Z

In the Commonwealth: Add section on Singapore to the body of the article, tag for expansion

New page

{{Distinguish|Parliamentary assistant}}
A '''parliamentary secretary''' is a [[member of Parliament]] in the [[Westminster system]] who assists a more senior [[political minister|minister]] with their duties. In several countries, the position has been re-designated as '''assistant minister'''.

In the parliamentary systems of several [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[India]] and [[Singapore]], it is customary for the [[prime minister]] to appoint parliamentary secretaries from their [[political party]] in [[parliament]] to assist [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]] ministers with their work. The role of parliamentary secretaries varies under different prime ministers. The post has often served as a training ground for future ministers.

== In the United Kingdom ==
In the [[United Kingdom]], Parliamentary Secretary (in full, usually [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] in those departments headed by a Secretary of State) is the third level of government [[Political minister|minister]], below [[Minister of State]] and [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]] (or another minister of Secretary of State rank, such as the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]). Not all departments have all three levels of minister.

A [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS), on the other hand, is a Member of Parliament who acts as an unpaid assistant to an individual minister, but has no ministerial role, although is expected to support the government at all times.

== In the Commonwealth ==

=== Australia ===
In Australia, parliamentary secretaries are appointed in the federal government and most state governments. At the federal level, the ''Ministers of State Act 1952'' provides for the [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] to appoint a member from either house of Parliament to be a parliamentary secretary to a minister. The Act also provides that, for constitutional purposes, parliamentary secretaries are to be appointed as ministers of state, which enables them to be paid a salary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ministers in the Senate - Senate Brief No. 14|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/briefs/Ministers_in_the_Senate#parliamentary|publisher=Australian Parliament House|access-date=22 February 2013|author=Department of the Senate|date=February 2013}}</ref> In practice, parliamentary secretaries are the third level of ministerial positions, after cabinet ministers (who are members of the [[Cabinet of Australia]]) and other ministers.

According to [[Paul Keating]] in 1993, "the institution of Parliamentary Secretary provides a very inexpensive means not only of giving talented individuals executive experience but providing Ministers with needed support."<ref>{{citation|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=8844|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225080155/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=8844|archive-date=25 February 2014|title=Statement by the Prime Minister|date=24 March 1993|first=Paul|last=Keating|author-link=Paul Keating}}</ref> On 20 September 2015, Prime Minister [[Malcolm Turnbull]] announced that the title 'Parliamentary Secretary' is to be re-designated as 'Assistant Minister'.

In the state of [[Queensland]], Parliamentary Secretaries were re-designated as 'Assistant Ministers' following the [[2012 Queensland state election|2012 Queensland election]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Structure|url=http://www.qld.gov.au/about/how-government-works/government-structure/|access-date=28 May 2012}}</ref>

===Canada===
{{main|List of Parliamentary Secretaries of Canada|List of current Parliamentary Secretaries of Canada}}

During [[Jean Chrétien]]'s term as [[Prime Minister of Canada]], parliamentary secretaries were set to two-year terms and the post was used as a reward for weary [[backbenchers]]. Their duty was to answer questions and table reports on behalf of ministers when they were unable to be present in the house.

Chrétien's successor as Canadian Prime Minister, [[Paul Martin]], when sworn-in in 2003, promised a new role for parliamentary secretaries. They would now be sworn into the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|privy council]], giving them access to some secret documents, and allowing them to attend [[Canadian Cabinet]] meetings and be assigned specific files by ministers. This replaced the positions of [[Secretary of State (Canada)|Secretaries of State]] which had been employed under Chrétien.

===Malaysia===
{{main|List of Parliamentary Secretaries of Malaysia}}

=== New Zealand ===
The position titled Parliamentary Under-Secretary is established by the [[Constitution Act 1986]].<ref>{{citation|title=Constitution Act 1986|date=13 December 1986|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0114/latest/DLM94204.html|pages=6–7|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref> Unlike [[ministers in the New Zealand Government]], parliamentary under-secretaries are not members of the [[Executive Council of New Zealand|Executive Council]].

[[Member of Parliament (New Zealand)|New Zealand]] also has Parliamentary Private Secretaries.

=== Singapore ===
{{Expand section|date=May 2021}}

== Outside the Commonwealth ==

=== Germany ===
{{Main|Parliamentary State Secretary}}
A [[Parliamentary State Secretary]] (''{{Lang|de|Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär, PStS}}'') is a member of the [[Bundestag]] given a portfolio to assist a [[Minister (government)|Minister]] with running a [[Ministry (government department)|government ministry]]. The position is roughly analogous to deputy ministers.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Langenbacher|first1=Eric|title=The German Polity|last2=Conradt|first2=David P.|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]|edition=11th|location=New York|p=272|authorlink1=Eric Langenbacher|authorlink2=David P. Conradt}}</ref>

In 2021, there are 36 parliamentary state secretaries in the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet|Merkel IV Cabinet]]. The position was first introduced in 1967 to help younger politicians gain experience for future ministerial roles.<ref>{{cite web|last=|date=|year=|title=Die Finanzierung der Parlamentarischen Staatssekretäre – Die wichtigsten Fakten|url=https://steuerzahler.de/aktion-position/politikfinanzierung/parlamentarischestaatssekretaere/?L=0|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|publisher=|pages=|language=|format=|quote=|periodical={{ill|Bund der Steuerzahler Deutschland|de}}}}</ref>

===Ireland===
In the [[Irish Free State]], the [[Ministers and Secretaries Acts|Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924]] created the post of Parliamentary Secretary, originally limited to seven holders. In 1978, the office was superseded in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] by the office of [[Minister of State (Ireland)|Minister of State]].

== See also ==

* [[Parliamentary assistant]]
*[[Permanent secretary]]
*[[Private Secretary]]
*[[Undersecretary]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Politics of Australia|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Parliamentary Secretaries of Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Parliamentary secretaries of Ceylon|*]]
[[Category:Political terminology in Australia]]
[[Category:Political terminology in Canada]]
[[Category:Government in Canada]]