Secretary of State for Wales
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
- Infrastructure
- Exiting the EU
- Foreign Affairs
- Energy and Climate Change
- Steel
- Defence
- Agriculture
- Tourism
- Public Appointments
- Welsh Budget
Current role holder
The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP
Simon Hart was appointed Secretary of State for Wales on 16 December 2019. He was previously Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for Implementation) at the Cabinet Office.
He was elected Conservative MP for Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire in May 2010.
Background
Simon was born in Wolverhampton and grew up in the Cotswolds. He was educated at Radley College before attending the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester.
Political career
Since being elected to Parliament, Simon has been a member of a number of committees, including:
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Welsh Affairs Select Committee;
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee;
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Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee;
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Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Simon has also been a member/Chair of several APPGs including Tourism in Wales, Learning outside the Classroom, Marine Energy & Tidal Lagoons, EU/US Trade, and others.
He was also formerly the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
Career outside politics
Simon worked as a Chartered Surveyor in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest and served with the Territorial Army for five years in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (part of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry).
Before being elected as an MP he was Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance.
Personal life
Simon lives in Llanmill near Narberth in Pembrokeshire with his wife Abigail and their two children.
Previous holders of this role
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The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP
2016 to 2019
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The Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP
2014 to 2016
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The Rt Hon David Jones MP
2012 to 2014
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The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP
2010 to 2012
Announcements
Subscriptions
- New Board of Trade holds first meeting featuring Welsh tech entrepreneur Anne Boden
- Welsh Secretary meets business leaders on EU transition
- Covid support for Welsh businesses - Job Support Scheme expanded
- UK Government helps more than 50,000 businesses in Wales
- 63,700 pensioners in Wales to automatically benefit from £140 winter bill discount
- Welsh Secretary praises outstanding achievements of Queen’s Birthday Honours recipients
- Welsh beef to be exported to the US for first time in over 20 years
- “Our fresh start means we can make all four corners of the United Kingdom stronger and more prosperous than ever before”
- Chancellor Outlines Winter Economy Plan for Wales
- Welsh Secretary visits growing Wrexham businesses recovering from the impact of Covid-19