Lead Ministers for Disability

Lead Ministers for Disability represent the interests of disabled people, and champion disability inclusion and accessibility across each government department, as they drive forward progress on the government’s manifesto commitments and 5 missions.

Their role is to: 

  • break down barriers to opportunity for disabled people right across the government’s long-term missions
  • fulfil the manifesto commitment to ensure their departments put the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of everything they do

The Lead Ministers for Disability meet as a group regularly throughout the year. The chair is Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability. 

The Lead Ministers for Disability are:

  • Cabinet Office: Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Parliamentary Secretary 
  • Department for Business and Trade: Justin Madders MP, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets
  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth 
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Emma Hardy MP, Minister for Water and Flooding
  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Minister for Energy Consumers
  • Department for Education: Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister for School Standards
  • Department for Transport: Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Local Transport
  • Department of Health and Social Care: Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care
  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Feryal Clark MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government
  • Department for Work and Pensions: Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP, Minister of State (Minister for Development) and Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
  • HM Treasury: Lord Livermore, Financial Secretary to the Treasury
  • Home Office: Seema Malhotra MP, Minister for Migration and Citizenship
  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Rushanara Ali MP, Minister for Homelessness and Democracy
  • Ministry of Defence: Alistair Carns OBE MC MP, Minister for Veterans and People 
  • Ministry of Justice (including Attorney General’s Office): Alex Davies-Jones MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State 
  • Office for Scotland: Kirsty McNeill MP (Scottish Labour and Co-operative), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Office for Northern Ireland: Fleur Anderson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • Office for Wales: Dame Nia Griffith DBE MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales and Minister for Equalities (DfE)

Contact details

disabilityunit@cabinetoffice.gov.uk