Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 March 2026
Letter from Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office & His Majesty’s Paymaster General on Ministerial Salaries, dated 11.3.26
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds writes to the PACAC chair to introduce the Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill 2026, which raises the statutory cap on salaried ministerial positions from 109 to 120 for the first time in over 50 years. The letter explains that modern governments consistently exceed the 1975 limits, forcing unpaid ministerial appointments disproportionately affecting Lords appointees. The Bill modestly increases cumulative salary caps at each tier but maintains the ministerial pay freeze.
Key findings
- Current statutory limit of 109 salaried ministerial positions unchanged since 1975, despite average governments since 2010 appointing ~120 Ministers
- All governments since 2010 have appointed more than 109 Ministers, creating reliance on unpaid ministerial roles disproportionately affecting House of Lords appointees
- Bill raises cap from 109 to 120 salaries: Cabinet level +1 (21→22), Cabinet and Minister of State level +4 (50→54), Cabinet to Parliamentary Secretary level +11 (83→94)
- Law Officers, Lord Chancellor, Government Whips salary limits remain unchanged
- No change to ministerial salary amounts; pay freeze maintained post-General Election
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Simon Hoare MP, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Cabinet Office, House of Commons, House of Lords
Notable line
“These limits have remained unchanged for over half a century, despite the vastly different landscape of modern politics.”
Key Quotes
“… the average size of Government since 2010 has been approximately 120 Ministers, and all Governments since 2010 have appointed more than 109 Ministers”
“Governments of all parties have become dependent on Ministers being willing and able to work unpaid. These roles have often fallen disproportionately to Ministers appointed from the House of Lords.”
“This Bill will update the number of salaries that can be paid to Government Ministers for the first time in over 50 years, reflecting the demands of modern Government and largely ending the practice of unpaid Ministers.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗