Ministerial role

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection)

Current role holder: Kate Dearden MP

Responsibilities

Her portfolio includes:

  • employment rights  
  • labour market enforcement  
  • consumer protection   
  • retail and hospitality  
  • consumer goods  
  • product safety  
  • Department Corporate Minister  
  • competition policy

Public bodies:

  • Low Pay Commission  
  • Competition and Markets Authority  
  • Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas)  
  • British Hallmarking Council  
  • Competition Service  
  • Groceries Code Adjudicator  
  • Pubs Code Adjudicator  
  • Competition Appeal Tribunal 
  • Central Arbitration Committee  
  • Certification Officer

Current role holder

Kate Dearden MP

Kate Dearden was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade on 7 September 2025.

She was previously Assistant Whip, House of Commons between 18 July 2024 and 7 September 2025. She was elected as the MP for Halifax in July 2024.

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