A parliamentary private secretary (PPS) is a member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom who acts as an unpaid assistant to a government minister or a shadow minister. They are selected from backbench MPs as the "eyes and ears" of the minister in the House of Commons.

PPSs are junior to parliamentary under-secretaries of state, a ministerial post salaried by one or more departments.

Duties and powers Although not paid other than their salary as an MP, PPSs help the government track backbench opinion in Parliament. They are subject to some restrictions, as outlined in the Ministerial Code of the British government, but are not members of the Government.

A PPS can sit on select committees but must avoid "associating themselves with recommendations critical of, or embarrassing to the Government", and must not make statements or ask questions on matters affecting the minister's department.The Ministerial Code §3.10. In particular, the PPS in the Department for Communities and Local Government may not participate in planning decisions or in the consideration of planning cases.Ministerial Code §3.12.

PPSs are not members of the government, and all efforts are made to avoid these positions being referred to as such. They are instead considered more simply as normal Members. However, their close confidence with ministers does impose obligations on every PPS. The guidelines surrounding the divulging of classified information by ministers to PPSs are rigid.The Ministerial Code §3.8.

Ministers choose their own PPSs, but they are expected to consult the Chief Whip and must seek the written approval for each candidate from the prime minister.The Ministerial Code §3.6.

Although not on the government payroll, PPSs are expected to act as part of the payroll vote, voting in line with the government on every division.The Ministerial Code §3.9.

When on official Departmental business, a PPS receives travel and subsistence allowance paid out of government funds, as with formal members of the government. This makes the PPS the only type of unpaid advisor who receives reimbursement in the course of duty.The Ministerial Code §3.11.

Overseas travel for PPSs must be approved by the Prime Minister and is granted only in exceptional cases.

The role in the career of MPs The role of PPS is seen as a starting point for many MPs who aspire to become ministers themselves. According to Philip W. Buck, a professor of political science at Stanford University:

After the leaking of party details in emails associated with Desmond Swayne, PPS to David Cameron, a writer of the Thirsk and Malton Labour Party Constituency Blog commented:

Current Parliamentary Private Secretaries an updated list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries was published on GOV.UK. The Leader of the Opposition usually has at least one Parliamentary Private Secretary as well. More recent changes occurred between March 2026 and May 2026, with some PPSs being promoted to ministerial roles and others resigning following the 2026 United Kingdom local elections.

+ Parliamentary Private SecretariesDepartmentOfficeMinisterPPSStartOffice for the Prime Minister and CabinetPrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the UnionMinister for the Civil ServiceCabinet OfficeFirst Secretary of StateMinister for the Cabinet OfficeChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterMinister for Artificial IntelligenceMinister for Intergovernmental Relations and European RelationsHM TreasuryChancellor of the ExchequerSecond Lord of the TreasuryForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeSecretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development AffairsHome OfficeSecretary of State for the Home DepartmentMinistry of DefenceSecretary of State for DefenceMinistry of JusticeSecretary of State for JusticeLord ChancellorDepartment for Health and Social CareSecretary of State for Health and Social CareDepartment for EducationSecretary of State for EducationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentSecretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentMinister of State for Housing and PlanningOffice for Equality and OpportunityMinister for Women and EqualitiesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroSecretary of State for Energy Security and Net ZeroDepartment for Work and PensionsSecretary of State for Work and PensionsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeSecretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and TradePresident of the Board of TradeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsSecretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsDepartment for TransportSecretary of State for TransportNorthern Ireland OfficeSecretary of State for Northern IrelandScotland OfficeSecretary of State for ScotlandWales OfficeSecretary of State for WalesDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportSecretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportOffice of the Leader of the House of LordsLeader of the House of LordsLord Privy SealOffice of the Leader of the House of CommonsLeader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilAttorney General's OfficeAttorney General for England and WalesAdvocate General for Northern Ireland

Notable Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister

While giving the holder a close-up view of the workings of government at the highest levels, relatively few Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister seem to have gone on to serve at the highest level of government themselves, although Sir Alec Douglas-Home served as prime minister in 1963–4, while Anthony Barber was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1970 to 1974, Robert Carr, Home Secretary, 1972–4, and Christopher Soames, Peter Shore, and Gavin Williamson, the future Secretary of State for Education, all went on to be senior Cabinet ministers.

J. C. C. Davidson to Bonar Law Lord Dunglass: to Neville Chamberlain, 1937–1940 Brendan Bracken to Winston Churchill, 1940–1941 Christopher Soames to Winston Churchill, 1952–1955 Robert Carr to Sir Anthony Eden, 1955 Anthony Barber to Harold Macmillan, 1957–1959 Peter Shore to Harold Wilson, 1965–1966 Timothy Kitson to Edward Heath, 1970–1974 Ian Gow to Margaret Thatcher, 1979–1983 Peter Morrison to Margaret Thatcher, 1990 Graham Bright to John Major, 1990–1994 Gavin Williamson to David Cameron, 2013–2016 George Hollingbery to Theresa May, 2016–2017

See also Parliamentary secretary Parliamentary under-secretary of state Permanent secretary Private secretary Principal Private Secretary

References

External links BBC: A-Z of Politics TheyWorkForYou: List of MPs and the posts that they hold Ministerial code related to PPSs Parliamentary private secretaries, Institute for Government explainer