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{{Short description|Officer of Cabinet for Parliament duties}}
{{Distinguish|Parliamentary assistant|Private secretary|Permanent secretary}}
A '''parliamentary secretary''' is a [[member of Parliament]] in the [[Westminster system]] who assists a more senior [[political minister|minister]] with their duties. In several countries, the position has been re-designated as '''assistant minister'''.▼
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
▲A '''parliamentary secretary''' is a [[
In the parliamentary systems of several [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[India]] and [[Singapore]], it is customary for the [[prime minister]] to appoint parliamentary secretaries from their [[political party]] in [[parliament]] to assist [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]] ministers with their work. The role of parliamentary secretaries varies under different prime ministers. The post has often served as a training ground for future ministers.
== In the United Kingdom ==▼
In the [[United Kingdom]], Parliamentary Secretary (in full, usually [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] in those departments headed by a Secretary of State) is the third level of government [[Political minister|minister]], below [[Minister of State]] and [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]] (or another minister of Secretary of State rank, such as the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]). Not all departments have all three levels of minister.▼
A [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS), on the other hand, is a Member of Parliament who acts as an unpaid assistant to an individual minister, but has no ministerial role, although is expected to support the government at all times.▼
== In the Commonwealth ==
=== Australia ===
In Australia, parliamentary secretaries are appointed in the federal government and most state governments. At the federal level, the Australian constitution provides only for the appointment of "ministers of state". Under current practice, ministers of state are divided into three levels: parliamentary secretaries are the third level, after cabinet ministers (ministers who are members of the [[Cabinet of Australia]]) and other ministers. Since 2015, "parliamentary secretaries" have been known as "assistant ministers" instead. However, the ''Ministers of State Act 1952''
According to [[Paul Keating]] in 1993, "the institution of Parliamentary Secretary provides a very inexpensive means not only of giving talented individuals executive experience but providing Ministers with needed support."<ref>{{citation|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=8844|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225080155/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=8844|archive-date=25 February 2014|title=Statement by the Prime Minister|date=24 March 1993|first=Paul|last=Keating|author-link=Paul Keating}}</ref>
In the state of [[Queensland]],
===Canada===
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During [[Jean Chrétien]]'s term as [[Prime Minister of Canada]], parliamentary secretaries were set to two-year terms and the post was used as a reward for weary [[backbenchers]]. Their duty was to answer questions and table reports on behalf of ministers when they were unable to be present in the house.
Chrétien's successor as Canadian Prime Minister, [[Paul Martin]], when sworn
===Ceylon===
Under the [[Soulbury Constitution]], junior members of parliament were appointed to serve as parliamentary secretaries. Each cabinet minister would have one parliamentary secretary. In 1972, the [[Sri Lankan Constitution of 1972|republican constitution]] replace the position of parliamentary secretary with that of [[Deputy minister (Sri Lanka)|deputy minister]]. With the [[Ministry of External Affairs and Defence|parliamentary secretary for external affairs and defence]] serving as the de facto parliamentary secretary to the [[Prime Minister of Ceylon]].
===Malaysia===
{{main|List of Parliamentary Secretaries of Malaysia}}
===Mauritius===
Since the 1968 Independence the constitution of Mauritius allowed for 14 ministers and 5 Parliamentary Secretaries. Initially the role of a Parliamentary Secretary was to assist ministers. The number of such positions rose steadily but their roles have progressively changed. After the 1987 elections the candidates who had missed out on ministerial positions were nominated as Parliamentary Secretaries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmedkhan |first1=Iqbal |title=What do Private Parliamentary Secretaries do and why the system needs a change (30 October 2023) |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/what-do-private-parliamentary-secretaries-do-and-why-the-system-needs-a-change-528352 |publisher=L'Express |access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref>
=== New Zealand ===
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=== Singapore ===
{{Expand section|date=May 2021}}
▲In the [[United Kingdom]], Parliamentary Secretary (in full, usually [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] in those departments headed by a Secretary of State) is the third level of government [[Political minister|minister]], below [[Minister of State]] and [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]] (or another minister of Secretary of State rank, such as the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]). Not all departments have all three levels of minister.
▲A [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS), on the other hand, is a Member of Parliament who acts as an unpaid assistant to an individual minister, but has no ministerial role, although is expected to support the government at all times.
== Outside the Commonwealth ==
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=== Germany ===
{{Main|Parliamentary State Secretary}}
A [[Parliamentary State Secretary]] (''{{Lang|de|Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär, PStS}}'') is a member of the [[Bundestag]] given a portfolio to assist a [[Minister (government)|Minister]] with running a [[Ministry (government department)|government ministry]]. The position is roughly analogous to deputy ministers.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Langenbacher|first1=Eric|title=The German Polity|last2=Conradt|first2=David P.|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]|edition=11th|location=New York|
In 2021, there are 36 parliamentary state secretaries in the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet|Merkel IV Cabinet]]. The position was first introduced in 1967 to help younger politicians gain experience for future ministerial roles.<ref>{{cite web|last=|date=|year=|title=Die Finanzierung der Parlamentarischen Staatssekretäre – Die wichtigsten Fakten|url=https://steuerzahler.de/aktion-position/politikfinanzierung/parlamentarischestaatssekretaere/?L=0|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|publisher=|pages=|language=|format=|quote=|periodical={{ill|Bund der Steuerzahler Deutschland|de}}}}</ref>
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* [[Parliamentary assistant]]
*[[Permanent secretary]]
*[[Private
*[[Undersecretary]]
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