Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Pensions)
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include:
- pensioner benefits, including new State Pension, Winter Fuel Payments, Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance
- private and occupational pensions, including regulatory powers and the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST)
- Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments, Sure Start Maternity grants and Funeral Expenses Payment scheme)
- oversight of arms-length bodies, including the Pensions Regulator, Pension Protection Fund, Financial Assistance Scheme and Pensions Ombudsman, and Office for Nuclear Regulation
- methods of payment, including Post Office Card Account
- Net Zero
- Shadow Lords Minister
- fraud, error and debt
Current role holder
Paul Maynard
Paul Maynard was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions on 13 November 2023.
He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport between July 2019 and February 2020.
He was also Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice between May 2019 and July 2019.
He was previously Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury). Paul was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport from July 2016 to January 2018. He was elected Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys in May 2010.
Education
Paul was educated at St Ambrose College, Altrincham and University College, Oxford where he studied history.
Career outside politics
Before entering Parliament, Paul worked as a political adviser and speechwriter.
Previous holders of this role
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The Rt Hon Laura Trott MBE
2022 to 2023