The tables below show you how to address Ministers both verbally and in writing.
Cabinet Ministers
Cabinet Ministers are usually made Privy Counsellors as a result of their taking office. In correspondence they should be addressed by their official titles prefixed by "The Right Honourable" and not by their personal names, for example:
| Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|
| The Right Honourable The Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury | Prime Minister |
| The Right Honourable The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State | Deputy Prime Minister |
| The Right Honourable The Chancellor of the Exchequer | Chancellor |
| The Right Honourable The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice | Lord Chancellor |
| The Right Honourable The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Foreign Secretary |
| The Right Honourable The Secretary of State for the Home Department | Home Secretary |
| The Right Honourable The Attorney General | Attorney General |
| The Right Honourable The Secretary of State for Scotland | Secretary of State |
| The Right Honourable The Secretary of State for Wales | Secretary of State |
| Male: The Right Honourable The Lord President of the Council | Lord President |
| Female: where the office holder is female she may prefer to be known as The Right Honourable The President of the Council | President |
Junior Ministers
Junior Ministers are not Privy Counsellors, although there are some exceptions. Because there are many junior ministerial posts in the Government, ministers' personal names are also used, for example:
| Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|
|
John Doe Esq. MP Minister of State, Home Office |
Minister |
|
Mrs Joan Doe MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department of Health |
Minister [or] Under Secretary |
Ministers of the Ministry of Justice
| Address (in correspondence) | Dear... |
|---|---|
| The Right Honourable The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice | Lord Chancellor (when Lord Chancellor business) and Secretary of State (for all other business) |
|
John Doe Esq. MP Minister of State, Ministry of Justice |
Minister [where appropriate] |
|
John Doe Esq, MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice |
Parliamentary Secretary |
|
John Doe Esq, MP Parliamentary Private Secretary, Ministry of Justice |
Mr Doe |
|
John Doe Esq, MP Parliamentary Secretary for [Scotland] [Wales] (as the case may be) |
Parliamentary Secretary |
Please note: orally, the Parliamentary Under Secretary and the Minister of State are referred to as "Minister".