The Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms is a mid-level position in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology of the British Government It is currently held by MP Chris Bryant and was previously held by Julia Lopez and John Whittingdale.
Responsibilities
The minister has responsibility of the following policy areas:3
- Digital infrastructure and telecoms
- Building Digital UK (BDUK)
- Data protection (including Data Bill)
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
- Digital inclusion
- Space sector growth and UK Space Agency (UKSA)
List of ministers
| Minister | Took office | Left office | Political party | Ministry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of State for Data and Digital Infrastructure | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Julia LopezMP for Hornchurch and Upminster | 7 March 2023 | 9 May 2023 | Conservative | Sunak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Whittingdale4MP for Maldon | 9 May 2023 | 20 December 2023 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Julia LopezMP for Hornchurch and Upminster | 20 December 2023 | 5 July 2024 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris BryantMP for Rhondda and Ogmore | 8 July 2024 | Incumbent | Labour | Starmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
"Minister of State for Data and Digital Infrastructure – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state-minister-for-data-and-digital-infrastructure ↩
"The Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 December 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/people/john-whittingdale ↩
"Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state-for-data-protection-and-telecoms ↩
In accordance with the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021 Whittingdale temporarily served during Lopez's maternity leave. ↩