Categories: Lists of British ministers | Government of the UK

Secretary of State for International Development

In the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for International Development is a Cabinet minister responsible for promoting development overseas, particularly in the third world. The post was created in 1997 when the Department for International Development was made independent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

A separate Ministry of Overseas Development was established by Harold Wilson when he came to office in 1964. The first three holders of the office served in the Cabinet, but from August 29, 1967 the office was demoted. Under Edward Heath, the Ministry was incorporated with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on October 15, 1970. From June 10, 1975 to October 8, 1979 the Foreign Secretary served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister for Overseas Development in the cabinet, while the Minister for Overseas Development held the rank of Minister of State within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Minister of State had day-to-day responsibility. Under the Labour government of the 1970s, Reg Prentice sat in the Cabinet during his term.