Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Contents

Biography

Elizabeth Truss was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 11 June 2017. She was elected as the Conservative MP for south west Norfolk in 2010.

Education

Elizabeth studied philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford.

Political career

Elizabeth entered Parliament in 2010. She was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare in September 2012. Elizabeth served as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from July 2014 until July 2016.
She was Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from July 2016 until June 2017.

Career outside politics

Elizabeth was previously Deputy Director at Reform. She also worked in the energy and telecommunications industry for 10 years as a commercial manager and economics director, and is a qualified management accountant.

Personal life

Elizabeth is married with 2 children.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Chief Secretary (CST) is responsible for:

  • public expenditure, including:
    • spending reviews and strategic planning
    • in-year spending control
    • public sector pay and pensions
    • Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and welfare reform
    • efficiency and value for money in public service
    • procurement
    • capital investment
    • infrastructure spending
    • housing and planning
    • spending issues related to trade
    • transport policy, including HS2, Crossrail 2, Roads, Network Rail, Oxford/Cambridge corridor
    • Treasury interest in devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • women in the economy
  • childcare policy, including tax free childcare
  • tax credits policy
  • labour market policy

The Chief Secretary should be engaged on all issues of public spending.

More about this role

HM Treasury

Previous roles in government

  1. Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

    • 2016 to 2017

  2. Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • 2014 to 2016

  3. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare

    • 2012 to 2014

Policies

  1. Animal and plant health

Announcements

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  1. Trade growth top of the agenda on Teesside tour

    • News story

  2. Speech by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the Spectator Housing Summit

    • Speech

  3. Promoting the UK as an investment destination

    • News story

  4. Telegraph's Investing in Britain Forum: Chief Secretary's speech

    • Speech

  5. New Advanced Maths Premium can open more doors for young people

    • News story

  6. Tax-Free Childcare opens to all eligible families

    • Press release

  7. UK and Welsh Governments confirm next steps in Welsh tax devolution

    • News story

  8. Welsh economy one of the fastest growing in the UK

    • News story

  9. Post-Brexit economy will help Merseyside trade with the world

    • News story

  10. HM Treasury welcomes new ministerial team

    • News story
View all announcements