Minister of State (Minister for the House of Lords)
Responsibilities
- international relations and defence diplomacy
- professional military education
- security
- arms control and counter-proliferation
- honours, awards and medallic recognition
- heritage and ceremonial
- Royal Hospital Chelsea
- UK Hydrographic Office
- health and safety
- Ministry of Defence Police
- Defence Fire and Rescue
- Defence Medical Services
- export licensing and controls
Current role holder
Lord Coaker
Lord Coaker joined the Ministry of Defence in July 2024 as a Minister of State responsible for international relations, diplomacy, and House of Lords parliamentary business. Additional portfolio responsibilities include security and resilience, health and safety, and honours and awards.
Previously, Lord Coaker served as Minister for Policing, Crime, and Security (2008-09), and for Schools and Learning (2009-10), as well as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2013-15) and Northern Ireland (2011-13; 2015-16), before he joined the House of Lords as a Life Peer in 2021.
Lord Coaker studied Politics at the University of Warwick before obtaining his teaching qualification at Trent Polytechnic. He worked as a teacher in various schools (1976-1997) before being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1997.
Lord Coaker splits his time between Westminster and the family home in Nottinghamshire.