Ministerial role

Secretary of State for Wales

Contents

Responsibilities

The Secretary of State is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the UK Government in Wales.

Responsibilities include:

  • Welsh Government and Assembly Liaison
  • Constitutional and Electoral issues
  • Economy, Business & Inward Investment
  • Exiting the EU
  • Infrastructure
  • Welsh Budget
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Steel
  • Swansea City Deal
  • Public Appointments
  • Royal Matters
  • Welsh Language

Current role holder: The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP

Alun Cairns was appointed Secretary of State for Wales on 19 March 2016. He was elected as Conservative MP for the Vale of Glamorgan in May 2010 (re-elected 2015).

Education

Alun attended the University of Wales and has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Political career

  • Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales and a Government Whip July 2014 to March 2016
  • appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office 2014
  • elected as MP for the Vale of Glamorgan 2010
  • elected as Assembly Member to the Welsh Assembly 1999

Career outside politics

Before being elected to the Welsh Assembly, Alun worked for Lloyds Bank for more than 10 years, mostly in business development, with his last role in financial services compliance.

Personal life

Alun lives in his constituency with his wife Emma, who runs her own small business, and their son Henri. His father was a welder in British Steel and his mother was a shop-keeper.

He enjoys running and has completed 4 London Marathons in aid of local charities and was the fastest MP to complete the 26 mile course in 2015.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Stephen Crabb

    • 2014 to 2016

  2. The Rt Hon David Jones MP

    • 2012 to 2014

  3. The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan

    • 2010 to 2012

Announcements

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  1. UK Government welcomes INEOS Automotive investment to Bridgend site

    • Press release

  2. 30m to spark rollout of next generation 5G in rural Wales and help countryside capitalise on tech revolution

    • Press release

  3. Cardiff’s new transport research network receives £1m UK Government cash boost to turn vehicles green

    • News story

  4. Delivering for Welsh-speaking Wales: UK Government launches bilingual communications guidance

    • Press release

  5. UK’s future is bright, PM to tell farmers in Wales

    • Press release

  6. UK government transforming South Wales rail network

    • News story

  7. UK Government delivers for Wales at Royal Welsh Show

    • Press release

  8. Welsh Secretary promotes international property investment opportunities in Wales

    • Press release

  9. Welsh Secretary pledges support to automotive sector at ‘Driving the Future’ event

    • News story

  10. Wales to benefit from new tourism sector deal

    • Press release
View all announcements