Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland
The title Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland was informally used to describe UK Government Minister The Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, between 6 May 2005 and 27 June 2007, when he held the dual positions of Secretary of State for Wales and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. However, the two positions remained legally separate despite the perception of a combined office.
During the latter part of the Blair Ministry and the first year of the Brown Ministry (covering the period 2003-2008), it was common for the Prime Minister to appoint the Secretary of State for Wales and Secretary of State for Scotland to another Cabinet role concurrently.
Hain had been appointed Secretary of State for Wales on 24 October 2002 and subsequently held the following additional posts:
- Leader of the House of Commons (11 June 2003 - 6 May 2005);
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (6 May 2005 - 27 June 2007);
- Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (28 June 2007 - 24 January 2008).
His successors as Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and Wales, Shaun Woodward and Paul Murphy respectively, held each office as a single position.
The following Secretaries of State for Scotland held dual positions:
- Alistair Darling (13 June 2003 - 5 May 2006), also Secretary of State for Transport;
- Douglas Alexander (5 May 2006 - 27 June 2007), also Secretary of State for Transport; and
- Des Browne (28 June 2007 - 3 October 2008), also Secretary of State for Defence.
Browne's successor as Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, held that office as a single position as well.
As of June 2011, all three 'territorial' Secretaries of State (for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) in the Cameron Ministry have held office without other Cabinet posts.
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