Minister of State for Trade

"Trade Minister" redirects here. For general usage, see Commerce minister.

The Minister of State for Trade is an executive position in the Government of the United Kingdom, in both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The post is responsible for the activities of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

Although only a junior Minister of State position, it is considered to be one of the most important jobs outside Cabinet rank. When Douglas Alexander became Minister of State for Trade in September 2004, he was given a special provision to attend the Cabinet meetings.

Ministers of State for Trade

Name		Portrait	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
	Cecil Parkinson		7 May 1979	14 September 1981	Conservative
	Peter Rees		14 September 1981	9 June 1983	Conservative
	Paul Channon		9 June 1983	24 January 1986	Conservative
	Alan Clark		24 January 1986	25 July 1989	Conservative
	David Trefgarne		25 July 1989	23 July 1990	Conservative
	Tim Sainsbury		23 July 1990	14 April 1992	Conservative
	Richard Needham		14 April 1992	6 July 1995	Conservative
	Anthony Nelson		6 July 1995	2 May 1997	Conservative
	Lord Clinton-Davis		2 May 1997	28 July 1998	Labour
	Brian Wilson		28 July 1998	28 July 1999	Labour
	Richard Caborn		28 July 1999	11 June 2001	Labour
	Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean		11 June 2001	13 June 2003	Labour
	Mike O'Brien		13 June 2003	9 September 2004	Labour
	Douglas Alexander		9 September 2004	11 May 2005	Labour
	Ian Pearson		11 May 2005	8 May 2006	Labour
	Ian McCartney		8 May 2006	28 June 2007	Labour	Attended Cabinet
	Lord Jones of Birmingham		29 June 2007	3 October 2008	Independent	Took the Labour whip in the House of Lords, but never joined the party.
	Gareth Thomas		3 October 2008	5 June 2009	Labour	Thomas apparently continued as a Trade Minister after the appointment of Lord Davies. BERR described him simply as 'Minister for Trade' rather than 'Minister for Trade and Investment' as he was prior to Davies' appointment.
	Lord Davies of Abersoch		14 January 2009	11 May 2010	Labour	as 'Minister for Trade, Investment and Business'
	Mark Prisk		11 May 2010	11 January 2011	Conservative	Styled as 'Minister of State for Business and Enterprise'. Handled UK Trade & Investment until Lord Green entered the government
	Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint		11 January 2011		Conservative	as 'Minister of State for Trade and Investment'
	Lord Livingston		11 December 2013		Conservative
	Lord Maude of Horsham		11 May 2015	10 February 2016	Conservative	as 'Minister of State for Trade and Investment'. Baroness Anelay of St John’s DBE will be given Lord Maude's responsibilities on an interim basis until Mark Price CVO takes up the role in March 2016.

External links

• Official UKTI website