Ministerial role

Secretary of State for Wales

Organisations: Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
Current role holder: The Rt Hon David TC Davies MP

Responsibilities

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

Responsibilities include:

  • Fiscal
  • Constitutional and Electoral issues
  • Cost of living
  • Welsh language
  • Investment Zones
  • Freeports
  • Steel
  • Funds (eg SPF, Levelling Up)
  • Home Affairs (policing, immigration, security)
  • Defence
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Major Growth Deal Announcements
  • Public Appointments
  • Honours
  • Places for Growth

The Secretary of State shares responsibility with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in these areas:

  • Union
  • Welsh Government / Senedd / Assembly Liaison
  • Economy
  • Transport (partially devolved)
  • International Trade
  • Research and Development, Innovation
  • Agriculture
  • Global Britain
  • Western Gateway
  • Third Sector
  • Local Government

Current role holder

The Rt Hon David TC Davies MP

David T C Davies was appointed Secretary of State for Wales on 25 October 2022.

He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales between December 2019 and October 2022.

Previously, he held the role of Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee between 2010 and 2019. He was elected Conservative MP for Monmouth in 2005.

Background

David was born in London and educated in Bassaleg School, close to Newport, south Wales.

Political career

In 1999 David was elected as the Welsh Assembly Member for Monmouth and held the seat until 2007. Since being elected to the UK Parliament, he’s been a member of a number of committees including:

  • Welsh Affairs Committee
  • Home Affairs Select Committee
  • All-Party Parliamentary China Group
  • All-Party Parliamentary British-German Group

Career outside politics

After leaving school David went to work for British Steel and joined the Territorial Army, serving for 18 months as a Gunner with 104 Air Defence Regiment at Raglan Barracks, Newport. He also worked for his family’s shipping company, Burrow Heath Ltd and has also served as a Special Constable for 9 years with the British Transport Police.

Personal Life

David is married to Aliz and they live in Monmouth with their 3 children. He is a fluent Welsh speaker.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Robert Buckland KC MP

    2022 to 2022

  2. The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP

    2019 to 2022

  3. The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP

    2016 to 2019

  4. The Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP

    2014 to 2016

  5. The Rt Hon David Jones MP

    2012 to 2014

  6. The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP

    2010 to 2012