Lord Bates resigns as Minister of State for Home Office
The Queen has approved the resignation of Lord Bates as a Minister of State at the Home Office.
The Queen has approved the resignation from government of the Rt Hon Lord Bates as a Minister of State at the Home Office.
This will take effect at the end of the month (March 2016).
Lord Keen of Elie QC will act as a Lords spokesperson for the Home Office in addition to his other responsibilities as Advocate General for Scotland.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
I would like to pay tribute to Lord Bates’ parliamentary service and outstanding contribution as Minister of State at the Home Office. I am immensely grateful for his efforts in steering important pieces of legislation through the Lords, including the Modern Slavery Bill, the Psychoactive Substances Bill and, most recently, the Immigration Bill. He has been very effective in representing the Home Office in the Lords.
I wish him well in the commendable undertaking for which he vacates his post, a solo walk across South America in support of the UN Olympic truce and to raise funds for UNICEF, a cause close to his heart.
The Home Secretary Theresa May said:
Lord Bates has been a highly valued member of the ministerial team at the Home Office and played a key role in steering hugely important legislation through the House of Lords. I would like to thank him for his contribution to the Home Office and wish him the very best on his fundraising walk across South America.