The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern
Biography
The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education on 6 July 2024. This role also became part of the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 September 2025.
Since 4 March 2025 Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern serves as a Minister for Women and Equalities.
She previously served as a Government spokesperson for Equalities between 8 October 2024 and 4 March 2025.
Minister of State (Minister for Skills)
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Skills England
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Support for young people not in employment, education or training, including pre-19 careers
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Youth Guarantee
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Apprenticeships including the growth and skills levy
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Skills-related In Work Progression
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Other (Department for Education) (DfE) responsibilities and Department for Education (DfE) representation in the House of Lords
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Responsibilities related to the Minister’s role as Minister for Women and Equalities
Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The minister’s responsibilities include:
- lead policy responsibility for gender equality and women’s rights
- sponsorship of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and Social Mobility Commission (SMC)
- UK equality framework (including the Equality Act)
- equality data and analysis
The minister also has lead responsibility in the House of Lords on the following policy areas:
- socio-economic opportunity
- race and ethnicity policy
- Employment Rights Bill (Department for Business and Trade lead)
Office for Equality and Opportunity, Race Equality Unit, Women and Equalities Unit, and Department for Education