Department of Trade and Industry
The Department of Trade and
Industry is a United Kingdom government department.
Department of Trade and Industry
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
History
See also
The Department of Trade and Industry was first formed in 1970 with the merger of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Technology, creating a new cabinet post of Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The new department also took over the Department of Employment's former responsibilities for monopolies and mergers. In January of 1974, the department's responsibilities for energy production were transferred to a newly created UK Department of Energy. Later the same year, following a Labour Party victory in the general election, the department was split into Department of Trade, Department of Industry and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.
In 1983 the departments of Department of Trade and the Department of Industry were reunited. The Department of Energy was re-merged back into the DTI in 1992, but various media-related functions transferred to the Department for National Heritage.
After the 2005 general election the DTI was renamed to the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry, but the name reverted to Department of Trade and Industry less than a week later, after widespread derision, including some from the Confederation of British Industry.
United Kingdom Trade and Investment forms a part of the department.
Ministers at DTI
Permanent Secretary
Trivia
Standard of the
Department of Trade and Industry
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry - The Rt. Hon Alistair Darling MP
Minister of State for Energy - Malcolm Wicks MP
Minister of State (Industry and the Regions)- Rt. Hon Margaret Hodge MP
Minister of State (Trade & Investment) - Rt. Hon Ian McCartney MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Science)- The Lord Sainsbury of Turville
Parliamentary Under-Secretary - Jim Fitzpatrick
Sir Brian Bender has been Permanent Secretary since 2005. He was previously Permanent Secretary at DEFRA.
In the magazine Private Eye, the department is routinely referred to as The Department of Timidity and Inaction.
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The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. Its secondary title is the President of the Board of Trade. The Secretary of State is responsible for the Department for Trade and Industry.
The idea of a Board of Trade was first translated into action by Oliver Cromwell in 1655 when he appointed his son Richard Cromwell to head a body of Lords of the Privy Council, Judges and merchants to consider measures to promote trade. Charles II established a Council of Trade on November 7, 1660 followed by a Council of Foreign Plantations on December 1 that year. The two were united on September 16, 1672 as the Board of Trade and Plantations.
After the Board was re-established in 1696, there were 15 (and later 16) members of the Board - 7 (later 8) Great officers of state, and 8 unofficial members, who did the majority of the work. The senior unofficial member of the board was the President of the Board, commonly known as the First Lord of Trade. The board was abolished on July 11, 1782, but a Committee of the Privy Council was established on March 5, 1784 for the same purposes. On August 23, 1786 a new Committee was set up, more strongly focused on commercial functions than the previous boards of trade. At first the President of the Board of Trade only occasionally sat in the Cabinet, but from the early 19th century it was usually a cabinet level position.
During the government of Sir Alec Douglas-Home, the then President of the Board of Trade Edward Heath was given in addition the job of Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development. This title was not continued under Harold Wilson, but when Heath became Prime Minister in 1970 he decided to merge the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Technology to create the Department of Trade and Industry. The head of this department became known as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade.
Following a Labour Party victory in the general election of October 1974 the office was split into the Department of Trade, the Department of Industry and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection. The title President of the Board of Trade became the secondary title of the Secretary of State for Trade. In 1983 the offices of trade and industry were remerged and the title of Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was recreated. When Michael Heseltine held this office, he preferred to be known by the older title of President of the Board of Trade, and this practice was also followed by Ian Lang and Margaret Beckett. Heseltine's decision to reuse the old title caused some comment and it was discovered that the Board of Trade had not in fact met since the mid-nineteenth century.
• First Lord of Trade
(1672–1782)
• President of the Committee on Trade and Foreign Plantations (1784–1786)
• President of the Board of Trade (1786–1963)
• Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, and President of the Board of Trade (1963–1964)
• President of the Board of Trade (1964–1970)
• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and President of the Board of Trade (1970–1974)
• Secretary of State for Trade, and President of the Board of Trade (1974–1983)
• Secretary of State for Industry (1974–1983)
• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and President of the Board of Trade (since 1983)
• President of the Committee on Trade and Foreign Plantations (1784–1786)
• President of the Board of Trade (1786–1963)
• Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, and President of the Board of Trade (1963–1964)
• President of the Board of Trade (1964–1970)
• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and President of the Board of Trade (1970–1974)
• Secretary of State for Trade, and President of the Board of Trade (1974–1983)
• Secretary of State for Industry (1974–1983)
• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and President of the Board of Trade (since 1983)
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (September 16, 1672 - 1676)
John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater (December 16, 1695 - June 9, 1699)
Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford (June 9, 1699 - January 8, 1702)
Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth (January 8, 1702 - 1705)
Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford (1705 - June 12, 1711)
Charles Finch, 4th Earl of Winchilsea (June 12, 1711 - September 15, 1713)
Francis North, 2nd Baron Guilford (September 15, 1713 - September 1714)
William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley (September 1714 - May 12, 1715)
Henry Howard, 6th Earl of Suffolk (May 12, 1715 - January 31, 1718)
Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holdernesse (January 31, 1718 - May 11, 1719)
Thomas Fane, 6th Earl of Westmorland (May 11, 1719 - May 1735)
Benjamin Mildmay, 1st Earl Fitzwalter (May 1735 - June 1737)
John Monson, 1st Baron Monson (June 1737 - November 1, 1748)
George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (November 1, 1748 - March 21, 1761)
Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys (March 21, 1761 - March 1, 1763)
Charles Townshend (March 1, 1763 - April 20, 1763)
William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne (April 20, 1763 - September 9, 1763)
Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough (September 9, 1763 - July 20, 1765)
William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth (July 20, 1765 - August 16, 1766)
Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough (August 16, 1766 - December 1766)
Robert Nugent, 1st Viscount Clare January 19, 1767) (December 1766 - January 20, 1768)
Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough (January 20, 1768 - August 31, 1772) (also Secretary of State for the Colonies)
William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth (August 31, 1772 - November 10, 1775) (also Secretary of State for the Colonies)
Lord George Sackville-Germain (November 10, 1775 - November 6, 1779) (also Secretary of State for the Colonies)
Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle (November 6, 1779 - December 9, 1780)
Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham (December 9, 1780 - July 11, 1782)
Thomas Townshend, 1st Baron Sydney (March 5, 1784 - August 23, 1786 (also Home Secretary)
Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool (August 23, 1786 - June 7, 1804) (also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster)
James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose (June 7, 1804 - February 5, 1806) (also Postmaster-General)
William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland (February 5, 1806 - March 31, 1807)
Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst (also Master of the Mint) (March 31, 1807 - September 29, 1812)
Richard Le Poer Trench, 2nd Earl of Clancarty (September 29, 1812 - January 24, 1818) (also Master of the Mint)
Frederick John Robinson (January 24, 1818 - February 21, 1823) (also Treasurer of the Navy)
William Huskisson (also Treasurer of the Navy) (February 21, 1823 - September 4, 1827)
Charles Grant (also Treasurer of the Navy) (September 4, 1827 - June 11, 1828)
William Vesey Fitzgerald (also Treasurer of the Navy) (June 11, 1828 - February 2, 1830)
John Charles Herries (also Master of the Mint (February 2, 1830 - November 22, 1830)
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (also Master of the Mint) (November 22, 1830 - June 5, 1834)
Charles Edward Poulett Thomson (also Treasurer of the Navy) (June 5, 1834 - November 14, 1834)
Alexander Baring (also Master of the Mint) (December 15, 1834 -April 8, 1835)
Charles Edward Poulett Thomson (April 18, 1835 - August 29, 1839)
Henry Labouchere (also Master of the Mint) (August 29, 1839 - August 30, 1841)
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon (September 3, 1841 - May 15, 1843)
William Ewart Gladstone (May 15, 1843 - February 5, 1845)
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 10th Earl of Dalhousie (February 5, 1845 - June 27, 1846)
George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (July 6, 1846 - July 22, 1847)
Henry Labouchere (July 22, 1847 - February 21, 1852)
J. W. Henley (February 27, 1852 - December 17, 1852)
Edward Cardwell (December 28, 1852 - March 31, 1855)
Edward John Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley (March 31, 1855 - February 21, 1858)
J. W. Henley (February 26, 1858 - March 3, 1859)
Richard John Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore (March 3, 1859 - June 11, 1859)
Thomas Milner Gibson (July 6, 1859 - June 26, 1866)
Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt (July 6, 1866 - March 8, 1867)
Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond (March 8, 1867 - December 1, 1868)
John Bright (December 9, 1868 - January 14, 1871)
Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue (January 14, 1871 - February 17, 1874)
Sir Charles Adderley (February 21, 1874 - April 4, 1878)
Dudley Francis Stuart Ryder, Viscount Sandon (April 4, 1878 - April 21, 1880)
Joseph Chamberlain (May 3, 1880 - June 9, 1885)
Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond (June 24, 1885 - August 19, 1885)
Edward Stanhope (August 19, 1885 - January 28, 1886)
Anthony John Mundella (February 17, 1886 - July 20, 1886)
Frederick Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Preston (August 3, 1886 - February 21, 1888)
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Bt (February 21, 1888 - August 11, 1892)
Anthony John Mundella (August 18, 1892 - May 28, 1894)
James Bryce (May 28, 1894 - June 21, 1895)
Charles Thomson Ritchie (June 29, 1895 - November 7, 1900)
Gerald William Balfour (November 7, 1900 - March 12, 1905)
James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury (March 12, 1905 - December 4, 1905)
David Lloyd George (December 10, 1905 - April 12, 1908)
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (April 12, 1908 - February 14, 1910)
Sydney Charles Buxton (February 14, 1910 - February 11, 1914)
John Burns (February 11, 1914 - August 5, 1914)
Walter Runciman (August 5, 1914 - December 5, 1916)
Sir Albert Henry Stanley (December 10, 1916 - May 26, 1919)
Sir Auckland Geddes (May 26, 1919 - March 19, 1920)
Sir Robert Horne (March 19, 1920 - April 1, 1921)
Stanley Baldwin (April 1, 1921 - October 19, 1922)
Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame (October 24, 1922 - January 22, 1924)
Sidney James Webb (January 22, 1924 - November 3, 1924)
Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame (changed surname to Cunliffe-Lister, November 27, 1924) (November 6, 1924 - June 4, 1929)
William Graham (June 7, 1929 - August 24, 1931)
Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister (August 25, 1931 - November 5, 1931)
Walter Runciman November 5, 1931 - May 28, 1937)
Oliver Stanley (May 28, 1937 - January 5, 1940)
Sir Andrew Duncan (January 5, 1940 - October 3, 1940)
Oliver Lyttelton (October 3, 1940 - June 29, 1941)
Sir Andrew Duncan (June 29, 1941 - February 4, 1942)
John Llewellin (February 4, 1942 - February 22, 1942)
Hugh Dalton February 22, 1942 - May 23, 1945)
Oliver Lyttelton (also Minister of Production) (May 25, 1945 - July 26, 1945)
Sir Stafford Cripps (July 27, 1945 - September 29, 1947)
Harold Wilson (September 29, 1947 - April 23, 1951) (Resigned)
Sir Hartley Shawcross (April 24, 1951 - October 26, 1951)
Peter Thorneycroft (October 30, 1951 - January 13, 1957)
Sir David Eccles (January 13, 1957 - October 14, 1959)
Reginald Maudling (October 14, 1959 - October 9, 1961)
Fred Erroll (October 9, 1961 - October 20, 1963)
Secretary of State
for Industry, Trade and Regional Development,
and President of the Board of Trade (1963–1964)
and President of the Board of Trade (1963–1964)
Edward Heath (October 20, 1963 - October 16, 1964)
President of the Board of Trade (1964–1970)
Douglas Jay (October 18, 1964 - August 29, 1967)
Anthony Crosland (August 29, 1967 - October 6, 1969)
Roy Mason (October 6, 1969 - June 19, 1970)
Michael Noble (June 20, 1970 - October 15, 1970)
John Davies (October 15, 1970 - November 5, 1972)
Peter Walker (November 5, 1972 - March 4, 1974)
Peter Shore (March 5, 1974 - April 8, 1976)
Edmund Dell (April 8, 1976 - November 11, 1978)
John Smith (November 11, 1978 - May 4, 1979)
John Nott (May 5, 1979 - January 5, 1981)
John Biffen (January 5, 1981 - April 6, 1982)
Lord Cockfield (April 6, 1982 - June 12, 1983)
Tony Benn (March 5, 1974 - June 10, 1975)
Eric Varley (June 10, 1975 - May 4, 1979)
Sir Keith Joseph, Bt. (May 7, 1979 - September 14, 1981)
Patrick Jenkin (September 14, 1981 - June 12, 1983)
Cecil Edward Parkinson (June 12, 1983 - October 11, 1983) (Resigned)
Norman Tebbit (October 16, 1983 - September 2, 1985)
Leon Brittan (September 2, 1985 - January 22, 1986) (Resigned)
Paul Channon (January 24, 1986 - June 13, 1987)
David Young, Baron Young of Graffham (June 13, 1987 - July 24, 1989)
Nicholas Ridley (July 24, 1989 - July 13, 1990) (Resigned)
Peter Lilley (July 14, 1990 - April 10, 1992)
Michael Heseltine (April 10, 1992 - July 5, 1995)
Ian Lang (July 5, 1995 - May 2, 1997)
Margaret Beckett (May 2, 1997 - July 27, 1998)
Peter Mandelson (July 27, 1998 - December 23, 1998) (Resigned)
Stephen Byers (December 23, 1998 - June 8, 2001)
Patricia Hewitt (June 8, 2001 - May 6, 2005)
Alan Johnson (May 6, 2005 - May 5, 2006) †
Alistair Darling (since May 5, 2006)
† - Alan Johnson was initially announced on May 6, 2005, after the General Election, as being "Secretary of State for Productivity, Energy and Industry and President of the Board of Trade", but after just a week, on May 13, it was declared that the title's and department's name would not be renamed, after widespread derision of the new name.
The
Board of Trade 1621-1970
1621 Privy Council directed by the King "to take into their consideration, the true causes of the decay of trade and scarcity of coyne within the Kingdom and to consult the means for the removing of these inconveniences". As a result a committee of enquiry was set up named 'The Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations' (this is still the formal title of the 'Board of Trade') and this committee can be regarded as the germ of the Board of Trade.
Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries trade matters remained the responsibility of Privy Council Committees.
1696 William III set up a body of eight paid Commissioners "for promoting the trade of our Kingdom and for inspecting and improving our plantations in America and elsewhere".
Work on the plantations increasingly occupied the Board although it also had long periods of inactivity. After 1761, the Board of Trade was in chaos and, with the coming to power of the Rockingham Whigs in 1782, was abolished.
1784 William Pitt recreated a Committee on Trade and Plantations by Order in Council. On 23 August 1786 this Committee was put on a formal basis by a further Order in Council. This 1786 Order still remains in force. A secretariat was set up; President, Vice President and Board members appointed.
1820 The Board ceased to meet regularly about 1820 because the President found he could dispatch business more effectively without the committee. In fact no quorum has ever been laid down and the President had the right to transact all business by himself.
1850 The last formal meeting of the Board of Trade took place on 23 December. It has met only once since in 1986 (see below).
The Board's main function during the early nineteenth century was to advise the Crown on matters relating to economic activity in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. During the second half of the nineteenth century the Board also became responsible for new legislation on such matters as patents, designs and trade marks, company regulation, labour and factory matters, control of merchant shipping, mines. agriculture, transport, power and so on. While it retained its interest in internal and foreign trade, its control of colonial matters had passed to the Colonial Office by mid-nineteenth century.
1861 Section 65 of 'The Harbours and Passing Tolls etc Act' 1861 allowed the use of the official title of 'The Board of Trade'
"The Lords of the Committee of Privy Council appointed for the Consideration of Matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations may be described in all Acts of Parliament, Deeds, Contracts, and other Instruments, by the official Title of "the Board of Trade," without expressing their Names, and all Acts of Parliament, Contracts, Deeds, and other Instruments wherein they are so described shall be as valid as if the said Lords or any of them had been named therein".
1889 Board of Agriculture re-created (taking over Fisheries in 1903).
During the twentieth century the greater intervention of the state in commercial and industrial affairs led to specialised functions being separated off into new ministries.
1918 Ministry of Labour created.
1920 Ministry of Transport created (excluding merchant shipping).
1938 Ministry of Food created.
1939 The Board's merchant shipping functions passed to the Ministry of Transport.
1942 The Ministry of Fuel and Power created.
Despite the syphoning off of certain specialised functions, the Board still remained responsible for the country's economic life as a whole, whilst at the same time acquiring many new functions such as location of industry, control of monopolies, consumer protection and a major share in the work of sponsoring contacts between industry and government.
1964 The Board re-acquired responsibility for merchant shipping.
The Ministry of Technology was formed partly from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and partly from the Board of Trade.
1966 Board took over responsibility for the regulation of civil aviation from the Ministry of Aviation, and also acquired the duty of administering the legislation on investment grants.
1969 On 6th October the Ministry of Power was absorbed into the Ministry of Technology. The Board of Trade's remaining industrial sponsorship functions were also transferred to the Ministry of Technology and competition policy went to the Department of Employment and Productivity.
Thus, from its beginning as a more or less temporary Committee of Inquiry, the Board of Trade gradually evolved. Firstly it developed into a Standing Council with a comprehensive reference, but without executive powers, and secondly, by many gradual stages, into a complex organic structure whose members became a highly technical department charged with executive duties, overshadowing the original consultative functions of the Board.
1970 The Department of Trade and Industry came into being on the 20th October of that year. This new department united the trade and industrial policy functions previously carried out by the Board of Trade, and the Ministry of Technology. It also assumed responsibilities, from the Department for Employment and Productivity, for monopolies, mergers and restrictive trade practices.
The Order creating the Department of Trade and Industry allowed for the new Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to "exercise concurrently with the Board of Trade and the President of the Board responsibility for all the respective functions of the Board and President.." Though the government department known as the Board of Trade was no longer in practical existence the Board remained in existence for legal reasons and the Secretary of State retained the historic office of President of the Board of Trade.
The
Department of Trade and Industry (1970-74)
As well as unifying the trade and industrial policy functions of the Board of Trade with the Ministry of Technology, the new Department also took over responsibility for government policy towards monopolies and mergers from the Department of Employment. The central aim of the new Department was to help British industry and commerce achieve even greater international competitiveness. One of the new Department's main objectives was to help British firms prepare for the competition arising from Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.
1971 The Ministry of Aviation Supply was disbanded. Responsibilities for the aerospace industry, including the European space programmes, and civil aviation policy were transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry.
1972 The British Export Board was created on the 1st January to direct the export promotion activities of the Department integrating its export promotion work with the British National Export Council. This new organisation consisted of businessmen and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The British Export Board was renamed the British Overseas Trade Board on 1st March.
1974 The Department of Energy was established on 8 January to discharge the functions and responsibilities of the government in relation to energy resources, thus creating a new Department from the energy divisions within the Department of Trade and Industry. After the general election the Department of Trade and Industry was split on 5th March to form three new Departments: Department of Trade; Department of Industry and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.
The
Department of Energy 1974 - 1992
The first association of a Government Department with the energy industry was in 1850, when the Act for Inspection of Coal Mines was passed. Under subsequent Acts, Inspectors of Mines were appointed under the Home Office to administer these Acts and the Regulations made there under. The Board of Trade, the Department mainly concerned with the nation's industries, was generally responsible for the fuel and power industries apart from the enforcement of safety Regulations.
The Mines Department was set-up by the Mining Industry Act 1920 as a subsidiary of the Board of Trade, under a Parliamentary Secretary of the Board, with the title of Secretary for Mines. Under the Act, the Mines Department was charged with "securing the most effective development and utilisation of the mineral resources of the United Kingdom and the safety and health of those engaged in the mining industry". It took over all powers and duties of the Board of Trade in relation to mines and the mining industry and certain limited of functions of Government relating to the petroleum industry. It took over from the Home Office and the Mines Inspectorate the responsibility for health and safety in mines and quarries. The Board of Trade retained responsibility for the gas industry, but responsibility for the electricity industry had already been transferred by the Electricity (Supply) Act 1919, to the Ministry of Transport.
Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939, steps were taken to concentrate the responsibilities for the fuel and power industries in one Department of State, and by Order in Council of 11th September 1941, the powers of the Ministry of Transport concerning electricity were returned to the Board of Trade. By a further Order in Council of 11th June 1942, the functions of the Board of Trade in relation to the fuel and power industries were transferred to the first Minister of Fuel and Power, whose wartime responsibilities included overall responsibility for coal production, allocation of supplies of solid fuels, control of all energy prices, and petrol rationing.
The functions of the Minister of Fuel and Power were broadly defined in the Ministry of Fuel and Power Act 1954, which charged the Minister "with the general duty of securing effective and co-ordinated development of coal, petroleum and other minerals and sources of fuel and power in Great Britain, of maintaining and improving the safety, health and welfare of persons employed in or about mines and quarries therein and of promoting economy and efficiency in the supply, distribution, use and consumption of fuel and power, whether produced in Great Britain or not".
In January 1957, the style and title of the Minister was changed, by Order in Council, to the Minister of Power. At the same time the Minister assumed functions in relation to iron and steel previously carried out by the Board of Trade. October 1969 saw further changes; the Ministry of Power became part of the Ministry of Technology (Mintech) and in October 1970 Mintech merged with the Board of Trade to form the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI).
The Department of Energy was set-up in January 1974 when further changes in Whitehall resulted in responsibility for the energy industries being "hived off" from DTI. It was responsible for the development of national policies in relation to all forms of energy, including energy conservation and the development of new sources of energy. It was also concerned with the international aspects of energy policy. Specific functions included maintaining the Government's relationships with the former nationalised industries (coal gas and electricity) as well as the Atomic Energy Authority. The department was also the sponsoring Department for the nuclear power construction industry and the oil industry. It was responsible for the Government interest in the development of the oil and gas resources on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) and for the Offshore Supplies Office in its role of developing the ability of UK suppliers to meet the needs of the offshore operators on the UKCS and throughout the rest of the world.
During the 1980's most of the energy industries were privatised and therefore supervision by the Department was less necessary. Indeed there were other bodies set-up as regulatory bodies, notably the Office for Electricity Regulation (OFFER) and the Office of Gas Supply (Ofgas). In 1992, after the general election of 9th April, Mr Major decided there was no longer a need for a separate Department concerned with the energy industries. Therefore the functions carried out by the Department of Energy returned, in the most part, to the Department of Trade & Industry. The Energy Efficiency Office, however, transferred to the Department of the Environment.
The
Department of Industry (1974 – 1983)
1974 The new Department assumed responsibility for general industrial policy, both national and regional. It was particularly responsible for the sponsorship of individual manufacturing industries; technical services to industry; and industrial development and finance. The aerospace industries came within its responsibilities, as well as industrial research and development, including supervisions of the industrial research establishments of the former DTI. It also had departmental responsibility for the Post Office Corporation.
The former DTI’s 10 regional offices were attached to the new Department of Industry , though they also continued to deliver some regional services for the Department of Trade; Department of Energy and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.
The Secretary of State for Industry was also, for a short interim period, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
1974 April 17th – the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications was dissolved and its functions split between the Department of Industry and the Home Office (broadcasting and radio spectrum management).
The
Department of Prices and Consumer Protection (1974 - 1979)
1974 The new Department assumed responsibility for consumer affairs including consumer protection; consumer credit; and standards, weights and measures. It supervised the work of the Price Commission and dealt with prices in the shops including food prices (this latter function being transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). It also had responsibility for monopolies; mergers; restrictive practices and the Office of Fair Trading.
The Department was headed by the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.
1979 Following the general election, on 3rd May, the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Trade.
The
Department Of Trade (1974-1983)
1974 The new Department assumed responsibility for general overseas trade policy, commercial relations and tariffs, including those aspects of relations with the EEC. It became responsible for the work of the British Overseas Trade Board in export services and promotions, overseas finance and planning. In addition, it assumed responsibility for matters arising from companies' legislation, supervision of the insurance industry, the insolvency service, the Patent Office, civil aviation, marine and shipping policy, tourism, hotel and travel industries, the newspaper and film industry.
The Secretary of State for Trade also held the unpaid office of President of the Board of Trade.
1979 Following the general election, on 3rd May the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Trade.
1983 Following the general election, on 11 June, the Prime Minister announced that the Departments of Trade and Industry would be merged to form the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Department of Trade and Industry (1983-
)
Following the General Election, the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher announced, on 11 June 1983, that the Departments of Industry and Trade would be merged to form the Department of Trade & Industry. The new Department combined the functions of the previous Department of Industry with the commercial relations and trade functions of the Department of Trade. The Department gained responsibility for radio frequency regulation from the Home Office whilst responsibility for the shipping policy, marine and civil aviation policy and international aviation and the accidents investigation departments were transferred to the Department of Transport.
1984 On 7th August the Department assumed direct control of the Radio Interference Service (RIS) from British Telecom. This service was renamed the Radio Investigation Service (RIS) to reflect its activities more accurately.
1985 On 15th April Mr David Trippier was designated Minister with special coordinating responsibilities for issues relating to reclamation and recycling of waste. Mr Trippier combined this new post with his then current one of Minister for Small Firms. Later in the year on 3rd September the responsibilities for Small Firms, Small Firms Centres and Tourism were transferred to the Department of Employment.
1986 On Friday 21 March the Board of Trade met as part of the bicentenary celebrations.
1987 In July the Enterprise and Deregulation Unit (EDU) and Inner Cities Unit (ICU) were transferred to the Department from the Department of Employment.
1988 On 12th January Lord Young announced a new role for the DTI in a White Paper entitled "DTI - the Department for Enterprise". The following reorganisation caused the industry divisions to be replaced by market divisions which were organised by sector and covered a wider range of activities.
On 3rd October Companies House achieved Executive Agency status.
1989 On April 18 the National Weights and Measures Laboratory became an Executive Agency followed two days later by Warren Spring Laboratory. The Laboratory of the Government Chemist was launched as an Agency on 30th October. On 31st July the functions of the Business Statistics Office were taken over by the Central Statistical Office ((CSO) now Office of National Statistics (ONS)) as part of a reorganisation of government statistical services.
1990 On 21st February Nicholas Ridley announced a DTI reorganisation following the conclusion of the review started by Lord Young. The DTI's work would be grouped together in new divisions, each responsible for an overall policy theme. The new divisions created included: Business Task Forces; Information Technology; Manufacturing Technology; Telecommunications and Posts; Economics, Market Intelligence and Statistics.
More Executive Agencies were created during the year. The Patent Office took on Executive Agency status on 1st March followed closely by the Insolvency Service on 21st March. Radiocommunications became an Agency on 2nd April and lastly the National Engineering Laboratory on 5th October.
1991 On 14th March the creation of the Joint Directorate was announced. This new unit was drawn from the staff of both the DTI and FCO. From April all export services available through DTI and FCO were marketed under a new brand name 'Overseas Trade Services'.
On 1st October Peter Lilley announced that the Accounts Services Agency would be the first of the DTI's central services to take agency status. Also the Patent Office and Companies House would move to a new trading fund status.
1992 On his appointment to the DTI on 11th April Michael Heseltine chose to revive the title President of the Board of Trade instead of using the now more usual title of Secretary of State.
On 13 April following the General Election it was announced that the Department of Energy would merge with the DTI. The Department would also take responsibility for small firms from the Department of Employment. However the Inner Cities Unit was transferred to the Department of the Environment, work on films and the export licensing of art to the new Department for National Heritage and the Financial Services Division would move to the Treasury the following month.
On 3 July Michael Heseltine announced a major DTI reorganisation which reshaped the Department to relate more closely to sectors of industry. Eleven new divisions were created, seven of which were sectoral divisions.
1993 On 25th January a new hotline called 'Business in Europe' was launched to help UK companies to do business in Europe.
On 10 June the formation was announced of the new National Technology Centre to be created from Warren Spring Laboratory and AEA Technology. Warren Spring Laboratory ceased as a separate entity at the end of the financial year.
1995 On 12th July, John Major undertook a cabinet re-shuffle, Michael Heseltine became Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State. The new President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was Ian Lang. The Department of Employment was merged with the Department for Education to become Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) The DTI inherited the functions of industrial relations from the Employment Dept: also from the Cabinet Office came the Office of Science and Technology (OST). The Competitiveness Division and Deregulation Unit were transferred from DTI to the Cabinet Office.
1997 After the general election of 1 May, Tony Blair, the new Prime Minister, announced his new cabinet on 6 May, appointing Margaret Beckett as the new President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for Trade & Industry.
1998 On 27 July Tony Blair undertook a cabinet re-shuffle and appointed Peter Mandelson as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. On 23 December Stephen Byers succeeded Peter Mandelson as Secretary of State.
1999 In April, the Overseas Trade Services of the DTI were combined with the overseas posts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to form British Trade International. British Trade International is headed by a Chief Executive answerable directly to the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry and the Foreign Secretary.
2001 After the general election of 7 June Patricia Hewitt was appointed as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women. Patricia Hewitt became the DTI's longest serving Secretary of State.
At the same time there were major changes in the responsibilities of the DTI. These included taking over responsibility for the Regional Development agencies and the construction industry from the former DETR.
Shared responsibility with the FCO for British Trade International was vested in a single Minister of State. The Department also took over responsibility for Sunday trading and British summertime from the Home Office.
2002 Responsibility for the Women and Equality Unit was transferred from the Cabinet Office.
2004 Responsibility for the Shareholder Executive was transferred from the Cabinet Office.
2005 Following the May General Election the DTI's name was changed to the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry. But within a week the old name had been reinstated.
2006 Following a ministerial reshuffle, responsibility for the Women and Equality Unit was transferred to the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG).
See also
Home Office Chaos