Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, Minister of State for the Investment Security Unit, and Minister for Industry and Economic Security

Nusrat Ghani MP

Biography

Nusrat Ghani was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade and as the Minister of State responsible for the Investment Security Unit at the Cabinet Office on 7 February 2023.

She was previously Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from 27 October 2022 to 7 February 2023, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport from January 2018 to February 2020.

Nusrat was a Government Whip between July 2019 and December 2019, and an Assistant Government Whip from January 2018 to July 2019.

The Investment Security Unit moved from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the Cabinet Office in February 2023.

Minister Ghani continues to be responsible for the Unit.

The Unit is responsible for identifying, addressing and mitigating national security risks to the UK arising when a person gains control of a qualifying asset or qualifying entity as set out in the National Security and Investment Act.

Education

Nusrat was the first woman in her family to be formally educated. She attended state comprehensive school before studying at Birmingham City University (BA Government and Politics) and Leeds University (MA International Relations).

Political career

Nusrat was elected Conservative MP for Wealden in 2015.

In parliament Nusrat has been a member of a number of Select Committees, including:

  • Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee (2020 to 2022)
  • Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission (2017 to 2018)
  • Foreign Affairs Committee (2017 to 2018)
  • Armed Forces Bill Committee (2015)
  • Home Affairs Committee (2015 to 2017)

Most recently, in her role as a member of the BEIS Select Committee, she has led on a number of enquires, including a probe into the use of Uyghur slave labour in UK supply chains.

Nusrat was part of the UK delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2020 to 2022 and the Rapporteur of the Science and Technology Committee.

For her work in raising awareness of the plight of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Nusrat was nominated for the NATO Women of Peace and Security Prize, finishing runner-up to the Honourable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Career outside politics

Before beginning her career in politics, Nusrat was employed by the charities Age UK and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and later for the BBC World Service.

Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade

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Department for Business and Trade

Minister of State for the Investment Security Unit

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Cabinet Office

Minister for Industry and Economic Security

Responsibilities include:

  • advanced manufacturing
  • automotive
  • aerospace
  • sustainability and Infrastructure
  • steel
  • materials
  • maritime and shipbuilding
  • professional and business services
  • Canada and Mexico FTAs
  • economic security
  • sanctions
  • Ukraine reconstruction
  • global supply chains
  • critical minerals
  • trade defence
  • Industrial Development Advisory Board (IDAB)
  • Export Control Joint Unit

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Department for Business and Trade and UK Defence and Security Exports