Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention

{{Infobox official post

| post = {{small|United Kingdom}}
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention

| salary =

| deputy =

| formation = June 1970

| first = Paul Dean

| termlength =

| appointer_qualified = on advice of the Prime Minister

| appointer = The Monarch

| nominator =

| residence =

| incumbentsince = 10 February 2025

| body =

| incumbent = Ashley Dalton

| alt =

| image = Ashley Dalton (cropped).jpg

| department = Department of Health and Social Care

| insigniacaption = Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government

| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg

| style = Minister

| flagcaption =

| flagsize =

| flag =

| website =

| abolished =

| status =

}}

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention is a position in the Department of Health and Social Care in the Government of the United Kingdom. The role has previously been known as the Minister of State for Public Health.

History

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security worked at the Department of Health and Social Security. The future Prime Minister John Major held this office. The office was known as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health from 1987 to 1990.

Nicola Blackwood lost her seat in the snap 2017 general election and was replaced as a minister by Steve Brine.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the minister was placed in charge of public health policy.{{Cite web|title=Government thanks GPs for 'unprecedented' COVID-19 response as lockdown begins {{!}} GPonline|url=https://www.gponline.com/government-thanks-gps-unprecedented-covid-19-response-lockdown-begins/article/1699332|access-date=2021-02-17|website=www.gponline.com}} The office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment was created later and was held by Nadhim Zahawi from 28 November 2020 to 15 September 2021.{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment) - GOV.UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state-minister-for-covid-vaccine-deployment|access-date=2020-12-12|website=www.gov.uk|language=en}} Zahawi was briefly shadowed by Neale Hanvey of the Scottish National Party (SNP) but Hanvey had to resign following his support for a defamation case against a parliamentary colleague, Kirsty Blackman.{{Cite web|last=Marlborough|first=Conor|date=6 February 2021|title=Neale Hanvey MP: SNP Westminster vaccine spokesman sacked days after promotion|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/neale-hanvey-mp-snp-westminster-vaccine-spokesman-sacked-days-after-promotion-3126715|access-date=14 October 2021|website=The Scotsman|language=en}} In February 2021, Zahawi announced schools in England would reopen on 8 March.{{Cite web|title=Schools will reopen on March 8, vaccines minister confirms - The Global Herald|date=4 February 2021|url=https://theglobalherald.com/news/schools-will-reopen-on-march-8-vaccines-minister-confirms/|access-date=2021-02-06|language=en-US}}

In the 2021 British cabinet reshuffle, responsibilities for vaccines were merged with those for public health and given to Maggie Throup in the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines and Public Health.{{Cite web|title=Maggie Throup MP|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/maggie-throup-mp|access-date=2021-09-23|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}

After the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Andrew Gwynne would be named as the new Labour Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention.

In February 2025, after Gwynne was dismissed by the government, Ashley Dalton would be named as the new minister.

Responsibilities

The minister leads on the following policy areas:{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care) - GOV.UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--106#responsibilities|access-date=2020-10-23|website=www.gov.uk|language=en}}

COVID-19 vaccine deployment
health improvement
prevention
immunisation and screening
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
emergency preparedness
infectious diseases
environmental health
abortion
global health security
lead minister for crisis response
sponsorship of FSA and UKHSA

List of ministers of public health

class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" \|Name !Portrait !Took office !Left office !Political party ! colspan="2" \|Prime Minister
colspan="8" \|Role created out of the Department of Health and Social Security replacing the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Paul Dean MP for North Somerset \| \|24 June 1970 \|4 March 1974 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Edward Heath (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Michael Alison MP for Barkston Ash \| \|24 June 1970 \|4 March 1974 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Edward Heath (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|David Owen MP for Plymouth Devonport \|File:David Owen-1.jpg \|8 March 1974 \|26 July 1974 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Harold Wilson (lll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Robert Brown MP for Newcastle upon Tyne West \| \|8 March 1974 \|18 October 1974 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Harold Wilson (lll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Alec Jones MP for Rhondda \| \|18 October 1974 \|12 June 1975 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Harold Wilson (lV)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Michael Meacher MP for Oldham West \|File:Michael Meacher official portrait.jpg \|12 June 1975 \|14 April 1976 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Harold Wilson (lV)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Eric Deakins MP for Walthamstow \| \|14 April 1976 \|4 May 1979 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|James Callaghan (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Reginald Wells-Pestell, Baron Wells-Pestell Life peer \| \|3 January 1979 \|4 May 1979 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|James Callaghan (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|George Young MP for Acton \|File:Official portrait of Lord Young of Cookham, 2020.jpg \|7 May 1979 \|15 September 1981 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Lynda Chalker MP for Wallasey \|File:Official portrait of Baroness Chalker of Wallasey crop 2.jpg \|7 May 1979 \|5 March 1982 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Geoffrey Finsberg MP for Hampstead \| \|15 September 1981 \|14 June 1983 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Rodney Elton, 2nd Baron Elton Hereditary Peer \|File:Official portrait of Lord Elton 2020 crop 2.jpg \|15 September 1981 \|6 April 1982 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tony Newton MP for Braintree \| \|5 March 1982 \|11 September 1984 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (l) + (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne Hereditary Peer \|File:Official portrait of Lord Trefgarne 2020 crop 2.jpg \|6 April 1982 \|14 June 1983 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Patten MP for Oxford West and Abingdon \| \|14 June 1983 \|2 September 1985 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur Hereditary Peer \|File:Official portrait of Lord Glenarthur crop 2.jpg \|14 June 1983 \|26 March 1985 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Ray Whitney MP for Wycombe \| \|11 September 1984 \|10 September 1986 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Jean Barker, Baroness Trumpington Life Peer \| \|30 March 1985 \|13 June 1987 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major MP for Huntingdon \|File:John Major Feb. 1993.jpg \|2 September 1985 \|10 September 1986 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Nicholas Lyell MP for Mid Bedfordshire \| \|10 September 1986 \|13 June 1987 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll)
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Edwina Currie MP for South Derbyshire \|File:Edwina Currie.jpg \|10 September 1986 \|16 December 1988 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (ll) + (lll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Roger Freeman MP for Kettering \|File:Official portrait of Lord Freeman crop 2, 2019.jpg \|16 December 1988 \|4 May 1990 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (lll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Gloria Hooper, Baroness Hooper Life peer \|File:Official portrait of Baroness Hooper crop 2.jpg \|28 July 1989 \|14 April 1992 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (lll) John Major (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Stephen Dorrell MP for Loughborough \|File:Stephen dorrell mp -nhs confederation annual conferencepercent2c manchester-11july2011 - crop.jpg \|4 May 1990 \|November 1990 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Margaret Thatcher (lll)
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tom Sackville MP for Bolton West \|File:Tom Sackville and Luigi Corvaglia (cropped).jpg \|14 April 1992 \|29 November 1995 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Julia Cumberlege, Baroness Cumberlege Life peer \|File:Official portrait of Baroness Cumberlege, 2021.jpg \|14 April 1992 \|2 May 1997 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tim Yeo MP for South Suffolk \|File:Tim Yeo MP (15216846249).jpg \|15 April 1992 \|27 May 1993 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Bowis MP for Battersea \| \|27 May 1993 \|23 July 1996 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Horam MP for Orpington \|File:Official portrait of Lord Horam crop 2, 2019.jpg \|29 November 1995 \|2 May 1997 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Simon Burns MP for Chelmsford \|File:Simon Burns Official.jpg \|23 July 1996 \|2 May 1997 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|John Major (ll)
colspan="8" \|Minister of State for Public Health
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tessa Jowell MP for Dulwich and West Norwood \|File:Tessa Jowell Cropped.jpg \|2 May 1997 \|11 October 1999 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tony Blair (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Yvette Cooper MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford \|File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP crop 2.jpg \|11 October 1999 \|28 May 2002 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tony Blair (l) + (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|David Lammy MP for Tottenham \|File:Official portrait of Rt Hon David Lammy MP crop 5.jpg \|29 May 2002 \|13 June 2003 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tony Blair (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Melanie Johnson MP for Welwyn Hatfield \|File:Melanie Johnson.JPG \|13 June 2003 \|10 May 2005 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tony Blair (ll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Caroline Flint MP for Don Valley \|File:Official portrait of Caroline Flint crop 2.jpg \|10 May 2005 \|28 June 2007 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Tony Blair (lll)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Dawn Primarolo MP for Bristol South \|File:Official portrait of Baroness Primarolo crop 2.jpg \|29 June 2007 \|5 June 2009 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Gordon Brown (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Gillian Merron MP for Lincoln \|File:Official portrait of Baroness Merron crop 2, 2021.jpg \|10 June 2009 \|11 May 2010 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Gordon Brown (l)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Anne Milton MP for Guildford \|File:Official portrait of Anne Milton crop 2.jpg \|11 May 2010 \|4 September 2012 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|David Cameron (Coalition)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Anna Soubry MP for Broxtowe \|File:Official portrait of Anna Soubry crop 2.jpg \|4 September 2012 \|7 October 2013 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|David Cameron (Coalition)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Jane Ellison MP for Battersea \|File:Jane Ellison MP.jpg \|7 October 2013 \|15 July 2016 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|David Cameron (Coalition) + (II)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Nicola Blackwood MP for Oxford West and Abingdon \|File:Nicola Blackwood.png \|14 July 2016 \|9 June 2017 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Theresa May {{small\|(I)}}
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Steve Brine MP for Winchester \|File:Official portrait of Steve Brine crop 2.jpg \|14 June 2017 \|25 March 2019 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Theresa May {{small\|(II)}}
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Seema Kennedy MP for South Ribble \|File:Seema Kennedy MP.jpg \|4 April 2019 \|26 July 2019 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Theresa May {{small\|(II)}}
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Jo Churchill MP for Bury St Edmunds \|File:Official portrait of Jo Churchill MP crop 2.jpg \|26 July 2019 \|15 September 2021 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Boris Johnson (I) + (II)
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines and Public Health
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Maggie Throup MP for Erewash \|File:Official portrait of Maggie Throup MP crop 2.jpg \|15 September 2021 \|6 September 2022 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Boris Johnson (II)
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Neil O'Brien MP for Harborough \|File:Official portrait of Neil O'Brien MP crop 2.jpg \|8 September 2022 \|13 November 2023 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Liz Truss (I) Rishi Sunak (I)
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care
style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Dame Andrea Leadsom MP for South Northamptonshire \|File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP crop 2.jpg \|13 November 2023 \|5 July 2024 \|Conservative ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|Rishi Sunak (I)
colspan="8" \|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Andrew Gwynne MP for Gorton and Denton \|100x100px \|9 July 2024 \|8 February 2025 \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Keir Starmer (Starmer ministry)
style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Ashley Dalton MP for West Lancashire \|100x100px \|10 February 2025 \|Incumbent \|Labour ! style="background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|Keir Starmer (Starmer ministry)

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Name

!Portrait

!Took office

!Left office

!Political party

! colspan="2" |Prime Minister

colspan="8" |Role created out of the Department of Health and Social Security replacing the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health

colspan="8" |Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security

style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|Paul Dean
MP for North Somerset

|24 June 1970

|4 March 1974

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention

History

Responsibilities

List of ministers of public health

Other ministerial appointments

= COVID-19 vaccine deployment =

= Patient safety and primary care =

See also

References