Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation

The Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation (or simply Prisons Minister) is a mid-level ministerial office in the Ministry of Justice.[1]

Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation
Incumbent
James Timpson
since 5 July 2024
Ministry of Justice
SeatWestminster, London
AppointerThe Monarch
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Websitewww.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--147

On 5 July 2024 James Timpson was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Responsibilities

The minister currently has responsibility of the following policy areas:[2]

  • Prison operations, policy, reform and industrial relations
  • Probation policy and operations
  • Youth justice
  • Parole
  • Offender health
  • Offender Cohorts
  • Extremism
  • Home Detention Curfew (HDC)
  • Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) schemes
  • Drugs
  • Reducing reoffending
  • Female offenders
  • Foreign National Offenders

The minister also provides support on Global Britain and the promotion of legal services.






List of ministers for prisons

NamePortraitTook officeLeft officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Position created out of Minister of State for Home Affairs
Minister of State for Prisons
Ann Widdecombe
MP for Maidstone
28 February 19952 May 1997ConservativeJohn Major
(ll)
Joyce Quin
MP for Gateshead East and Washington West
2 May 199728 July 1998LabourTony Blair
(I)
The Lord Williams of Mostyn28 July 199828 July 1999
Charles Clarke
MP for Norwich South
July 1999June 2001
Keith Bradley
MP for Manchester, Withington
June 2001May 2002Tony Blair
(II)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Probation
Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds Central
29 May 200213 May 2003LabourTony Blair
(II)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Criminal Justice, Race and Victims
Fiona Mactaggart
MP for Slough
13 June 20035 May 2006LabourTony Blair
(II+III)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Probation Services
Gerry Sutcliffe
MP for Bradford South
5 May 200629 June 2007LabourTony Blair
(III)
Minister of State for Justice and Equalities
Maria Eagle
MP for Liverpool Garston
2 July 20076 May 2010LabourGordon Brown
(I)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Youth Justice
Crispin Blunt
MP for Reigate, Surrey
6 May 20104 September 2012ConservativeDavid Cameron
(Coalition)
Jeremy Wright
MP for Kenilworth and Southam
6 September 201215 July 2014
Andrew Selous

MP for South West Bedfordshire

16 July 201416 July 2016
David Cameron
(II)
Sam Gyimah
MP for East Surrey
17 July 20169 January 2018Theresa May

(I)

Theresa May
(II)
Minister of State for Prisons
Rory Stewart
MP for Penrith and The Border
9 January 20181 May 2019ConservativeTheresa May
(II)
Robert Buckland
MP for South Swindon
9 May 201924 July 2019
Minister of State for Prisons and Probation
Lucy Frazer
MP for South East Cambridgeshire
25 July 20194 March 2021ConservativeBoris Johnson
(I)
Boris Johnson
(II)
Alex Chalk
MP for Cheltenham
4 March 202110 September 2021
Lucy Frazer
MP for South East Cambridgeshire
10 September 202116 September 2021
Victoria Atkins
MP for Louth and Horncastle
16 September 20216 July 2022
Stuart Andrew
MP for Pudsey
8 July 20227 September 2022
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Probation
Rob Butler
MP for Aylesbury
20 September 202227 October 2022ConservativeLiz Truss
(I)
Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation
Damian Hinds
MP for East Hampshire
27 October 202213 November 2023ConservativeRishi Sunak
(I)
Edward Argar
MP for Charnwood
14 November 20235 July 2024
James Timpson
Member of the House of Lords
5 July 2024IncumbentLabourKeir Starmer
(I)

References

See also