Ministerial role

Minister of State (Minister for Employment)

Organisations: Department for Work and Pensions

Current role holder: Andrew Western MP

Responsibilities

• Labour Market, including employer engagement and the impact of AI 

• Jobs and Careers Service reform, including digital reform, Jobcentre Plus and post-19 careers 

• Work and Health: Occupational Health and Statutory Sick Pay 

• Employment support (incl. Restart, Pathways to Work) 

• Conditionality and Sanctions 

• In Work Progression 

• Devolution  

• Disability Employment

Current role holder

Andrew Western MP

Andrew Western was appointed Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions on 21 July 2026. He was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 21 July 2026. He was elected as the MP for Stretford and Urmston in July 2024.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

1. The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP

   2025 to 2026

Announcements

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• MSK patients to get faster care and help returning to work
  • 28 May 2026
  • Press release
• Joint letter to local authorities on the Crisis and Resilience top up for heating oil support
  • 24 March 2026
  • Correspondence
• New tool for families and schools to cut stigma of child poverty
  • 13 March 2026
  • Press release

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