# Second Major ministry

* This article is part of a series aboutJohn Major
Electoral history
MP for Huntingdon
1990 budget
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Premiership
First ministry and term (November 1990 – April 1992)
1990 leadership election
Ministry
Citizen's Charter
Charter Mark
Cones Hotline
Early 1990s recession
Gulf War
1992 general election
Second ministry and term (April 1992 – May 1997)
Ministry
Black Wednesday
National Lottery
Further and Higher Education Act 1992
Grant-maintained schools
Maastricht Treaty
rebels
Northern Ireland peace process
Downing Street mortar attack
Downing Street Declaration
1993 reviews of the British honours system
Council Tax
Child Support Agency
1993 vote of confidence
Back to Basics
Privatisation of British Rail
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
1995 Conservative Party leadership election
The Cullen Reports
Cash for Questions
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Arms-to-Iraq affair
Scott Report
United Kingdom BSE outbreak
Wirral South by-election
Resignation Honours
Bibliography
The Autobiography
More Than a Game
My Old Man :
vte :
John Major formed the second Major ministry following the 1992 general election after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to begin a new government. His government fell into minority status on 13 December 1996.

## Formation

The change of leader from Margaret Thatcher to John Major saw a dramatic turnaround in Tory support, with the double-digit lead in the opinion polls for the Labour Party being replaced by a narrow Conservative one by the turn of 1991. Although a general election did not have to be held until June 1992, Labour leader Neil Kinnock kept pressurising Major to hold an election during 1991, but Major resisted the calls and there was no election that year.
The recession which began in the autumn of 1990 deepened during 1991, with unemployment standing at nearly 2.5 million by December 1991, compared to 1.6 million just 18 months earlier. Despite this, Tory support in the opinion polls remained relatively strong, with any Labour lead now being by the narrowest of margins, although Labour still made some gains at the expense of the Tories in local elections, and seized the Monmouth seat from the Tories in a by-election.
Major finally called an election for 9 April 1992 which ended the first Major ministry. In a surprise to most pollsters, Major won the election, which led to the formation of the Second Major Ministry and a fourth consecutive Conservative term in office.
There was widespread media and public debate as to whether the Labour Party could ever win a general election again, as they had failed to do so in 1992, despite the Conservative government having been in power for over a decade and presiding over a recession for the second time. At the same time, there was much private debate (made public many years later in the memoirs of senior figures including John Major himself) within the Conservative government as to whether a fifth successive general election victory was a realistic possibility.
The new term of parliament saw Major gain a new opponent in John Smith, who succeeded Neil Kinnock as Labour leader.
However, the months which followed the 1992 general election saw a series of events which went a long way towards deciding the outcome of the next general election long before it was even on the political horizon.

## Fate

On Wednesday 16 September 1992, the pound sterling crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont had invested heavily in trying to keep it there, adjusting interest rates four times in one day as a desperate measure, an event which became known as Black Wednesday, leaving the Conservative government's reputation for economic excellence in tatters. Labour was soon ascendant in the opinion polls, and next few years brought a string of heavy defeats for the Conservatives in local council elections and parliamentary by-elections, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats benefiting at their expense.
Internal Conservative Party feuding on Europe and the government defeat on the Maastricht Treaty further dented the government's popularity, as did coal mine closures announced in late 1992, and a series of scandals involving MPs.
The end of the recession was declared in April 1993 after nearly three years, and unemployment – which had peaked at nearly 3,000,000 people by the end of 1992 – quickly began to fall. It had fallen below 2,500,000 within two years of the recession's end, and by the end of 1996 it was below the 2,000,000 mark. Freed from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the British economy outperformed the rest of the continent for the first time in a generation.
However, the strong economic recovery failed to make much difference to the dismal Conservative performance in the opinion polls. Labour leader John Smith died of a sudden heart attack in May 1994 and was succeeded by Tony Blair, who continued the modernisation process of the party which began under Smith's predecessor Neil Kinnock, by branding the party as: "New Labour", and by the end of that year the opinion polls were showing Labour support as high as 60% – putting them more than 30 points ahead of the Conservatives.
With the Conservative government remaining divided on Europe and much more, John Major, in an attempt to silence his critics and opponents, announced his resignation as party leader – but not as Prime Minister – in June 1995, triggering a leadership election. He was opposed by John Redwood, the Secretary of State for Wales, and Major won the leadership election without much difficulty.
The Conservative majority of 21 seats was gradually eroded by a string of by-election defeats as well as the defection of one MP to Labour, and by the turn of 1997 the Conservatives were without a majority in the House of Commons.
Major left it until the last possible moment before calling a general election, finally holding it on Thursday, 1 May 1997. He pinned his hopes of election success on a six-week campaign exposing New Labour's policies to scrutiny, as well as pointing towards a booming economy and falling unemployment. However, as the Conservatives had denied responsibility for the recession at the turn of the decade, few voters were willing to give them credit for the economic recovery, and Labour returned to power after eighteen years in opposition, with a 179-seat majority that saw several powerful Conservative figures (most notably Michael Portillo, widely tipped to be the next Leader of the Conservative Party) lose their seats and the loss of all Conservative seats in Wales and Scotland; the Conservatives subsequently suffered their worst general election result of the twentieth century and their place in government was taken by Labour, led by Tony Blair, after four successive parliamentary terms of Conservative Party rule.
The Conservatives did not return to government until 2010, and did not win a parliamentary majority until 2015, having had to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in order to form their first government under David Cameron.

## Cabinet
### April 1992 to May 1993

First Cabinet of Second Major ministry :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet ministers |||
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service | The Rt Hon. John Major MP | 1990–97 |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Rt Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 1987–97 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Norman Lamont MP | 1990–93 |
| Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. Douglas Hurd MP | 1989–95 |
| Home Secretary | The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP | 1992–93 |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Rt Hon. John Gummer MP | 1989–93 |
| Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. Malcolm Rifkind MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Education | The Rt Hon. John Patten MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP | 1992–93 |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | The Rt Hon. David Mellor MP | 1992–92 |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | The Rt Hon. Peter Brooke MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | The Rt Hon. Michael Howard MP | 1992–93 |
| Secretary of State for Health | The Rt Hon. Virginia Bottomley MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | The Rt Hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | The Rt Hon. Tony Newton MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | The Rt Hon. The Lord Wakeham | 1992–94 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Rt Hon. William Waldegrave MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | The Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP | 1992–97 |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | The Rt Hon. Ian Lang MP | 1990–95 |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry President of the Board of Trade | The Rt Hon. Michael Heseltine MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Transport | The Rt Hon. John MacGregor MP | 1992–94 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Michael Portillo MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for Wales | The Rt Hon. David Hunt MP | 1990–93 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||
| Chairman of the Conservative Party | The Rt Hon. Norman Fowler MP | 1992–94 |
| Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Richard Ryder MP | 1990–95 |

#### Changes

* On 24 September 1992 David Mellor resigns as Secretary of State for National Heritage following tabloid reporting of an affair with actress Antonia de Sancha. He was replaced by Peter Brooke.

### May 1993 to July 1994

Second Cabinet of Second Major ministry :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet ministers |||
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service | The Rt Hon. John Major MP | 1990–97 |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Rt Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 1987–97 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP | 1993–97 |
| Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. Douglas Hurd MP | 1989–95 |
| Home Secretary | The Rt Hon. Michael Howard MP | 1993–97 |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Rt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP | 1993–94 |
| Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. Malcolm Rifkind MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Education | The Rt Hon. John Patten MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. David Hunt MP | 1993–94 |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | The Rt Hon. Peter Brooke MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | The Rt Hon. John Gummer MP | 1993–97 |
| Secretary of State for Health | The Rt Hon. Virginia Bottomley MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | The Rt Hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | The Rt Hon. Tony Newton MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | The Rt Hon. The Lord Wakeham | 1992–94 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Rt Hon. William Waldegrave MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | The Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP | 1992–97 |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | The Rt Hon. Ian Lang MP | 1990–95 |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry President of the Board of Trade | The Rt Hon. Michael Heseltine MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Transport | The Rt Hon. John MacGregor MP | 1992–94 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Michael Portillo MP | 1992–94 |
| Secretary of State for Wales | The Rt Hon. John Redwood MP | 1993–95 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||
| Chairman of the Conservative Party | The Rt Hon. Norman Fowler MP | 1992–94 |
| Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Richard Ryder MP | 1990–95 |

### July 1994 to July 1995

Third Cabinet of Second Major ministry :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet ministers |||
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service | The Rt Hon. John Major MP | 1990–97 |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Rt Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 1987–97 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP | 1993–97 |
| Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. Douglas Hurd MP | 1989–95 |
| Home Secretary | The Rt Hon. Michael Howard MP | 1993–97 |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Rt Hon. William Waldegrave MP | 1994–95 |
| Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. Malcolm Rifkind MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Education | The Rt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP | 1994–95 |
| Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. Michael Portillo MP | 1994–95 |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | The Rt Hon. Stephen Dorrell MP | 1994–95 |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | The Rt Hon. John Gummer MP | 1993–97 |
| Secretary of State for Health | The Rt Hon. Virginia Bottomley MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | The Rt Hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | The Rt Hon. Tony Newton MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | The Rt Hon. Viscount Cranborne | 1994–97 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Rt Hon. David Hunt MP | 1994–95 |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | The Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP | 1992–97 |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | The Rt Hon. Ian Lang MP | 1990–95 |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry President of the Board of Trade | The Rt Hon. Michael Heseltine MP | 1992–95 |
| Secretary of State for Transport | The Rt Hon. Brian Mawhinney MP | 1994–95 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Jonathan Aitken MP | 1994–95 |
| Secretary of State for Wales | The Rt Hon. John Redwood MP | 1993–95 |
| Minister without portfolio Chairman of the Conservative Party | The Rt Hon. Jeremy Hanley MP | 1994–95 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||
| Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Richard Ryder MP | 1990–95 |

### July 1995 to May 1997

Fourth Cabinet of Second Major ministry :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet ministers |||
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service | The Rt Hon. John Major MP | 1990–97 |
| Deputy Prime Minister First Secretary of State | The Rt Hon. Michael Heseltine | 1995–97 |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Rt Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 1987–97 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP | 1993–97 |
| Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. Malcolm Rifkind MP | 1995–97 |
| Home Secretary | The Rt Hon. Michael Howard MP | 1993–97 |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Rt Hon. Douglas Hogg MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. Michael Portillo MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Education and Employment | The Rt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | The Rt Hon. Virginia Bottomley MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | The Rt Hon. John Gummer MP | 1993–97 |
| Secretary of State for Health | The Rt Hon. Stephen Dorrell MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | The Rt Hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | The Rt Hon. Tony Newton MP | 1992–97 |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | The Rt Hon. Viscount Cranborne | 1994–97 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Rt Hon. Roger Freeman MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | The Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP | 1992–97 |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | The Rt Hon. Michael Forsyth MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry President of the Board of Trade | The Rt Hon. Ian Lang MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Transport | The Rt Hon. Sir George Young MP | 1995–97 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. William Waldegrave MP | 1995–97 |
| Secretary of State for Wales | The Rt Hon. William Hague MP | 1995–97 |
| Minister without portfolio Chairman of the Conservative Party | The Rt Hon. Brian Mawhinney MP | 1995–97 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||
| Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | The Rt Hon. Alastair Goodlad MP | 1995–97 |

## List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
| Office | Name | Date | Notes |
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service | John Major | Continued in office – 1 May 1997 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister First Secretary of State | Michael Heseltine | 20 July 1995 | |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | Continued in office | |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | Tony Newton | 10 April 1992 | |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | The Lord Wakeham | 11 April 1992 | |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | Viscount Cranborne | 20 July 1994 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Norman Lamont | 28 November 1990 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Kenneth Clarke | 27 May 1993 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Michael Portillo | 10 April 1992 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Jonathan Aitken | 20 July 1994 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | The Hon. William Waldegrave | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Treasury | Sir John Cope | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | also Paymaster General |
| Minister of State for Treasury | Anthony Nelson | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Treasury | David Heathcoat-Amory | 20 July 1994 – 20 July 1996 | also Paymaster General |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Government Chief Whip | Richard Ryder | 28 November 1990 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Government Chief Whip | Alastair Goodlad | 5 July 1995 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Stephen Dorrell | 14 April 1992 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Sir George Young | 20 July 1994 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Michael Jack | 5 July 1995 | |
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Anthony Nelson | 14 April 1992 |
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Angela Knight | 6 July 1995 |
| Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | Phillip Oppenheim | 23 June 1996 |
| Lords of the Treasury | Greg Knight | Continued in office – 27 May 1993 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Irvine Patnick | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Nicholas Baker | 3 December 1990 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Tim Wood | 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Tim Boswell | 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Timothy Kirkhope | 11 December 1992 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Andrew MacKay | 27 May 1993 – 17 October 1995 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Derek Conway | 20 July 1994 – 23 July 1996 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Andrew Mitchell | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Bowen Wells | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Simon Burns | 5 July 1995 – 23 July 1996 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | David Willetts | 5 July 1995 – 28 November 1995 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Michael Bates | 17 October 1995 – 11 December 1996 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Liam Fox | 28 November 1995 – 23 July 1996 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Patrick McLoughlin | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Roger Knapman | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Richard Ottaway | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Gyles Brandreth | 11 December 1996 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Assistant Whips | Timothy Kirkhope | 25 July 1990 - 15 December 1992 |
| Assistant Whips | David Davis | 3 December 1990 - 28 May 1993 |
| Assistant Whips | Andrew MacKay | 15 April 1992 - 7 June 1993 |
| Assistant Whips | Robert Hughes | 15 April 1992 - 20 July 1994 |
| Assistant Whips | James Arbuthnot | 15 April 1992 - 20 July 1994 |
| Assistant Whips | Andrew Mitchell | 15 December 1992 -20 July 1994 |
| Assistant Whips | Michael Brown | 7 June 1993 - 9 May 1994 |
| Assistant Whips | Derek Conway | 7 June 1993 - 20 July 1994 |
| Assistant Whips | Bowen Wells | 9 May 1994 - 7 July 1995 |
| Assistant Whips | Simon Burns | 20 July 1994 - 7 July 1995 |
| Assistant Whips | David Willetts | 20 July 1994 - 7 July 1995 |
| Assistant Whips | Michael Bates | 20 July 1994 - 17 October 1995 |
| Assistant Whips | Liam Fox | 20 July 1994 - 29 November 1995 |
| Assistant Whips | Patrick McLoughlin | 7 July 1995 - 23 July 1996 |
| Assistant Whips | Roger Knapman | 7 July 1995 - 23 July 1996 |
| Assistant Whips | Gary Streeter | 7 July 1995 - 3 June 1996 |
| Assistant Whips | Richard Ottaway | 17 October 1995 - 23 July 1996 |
| Assistant Whips | Gyles Brandreth | 29 November 1995 - 12 December 1996 |
| Assistant Whips | Seb Coe | 6 June 1996 - 2 May 1997 |
| Assistant Whips | Anthony Coombs | 23 July 1996 - 2 May 1997 |
| Assistant Whips | Jacqui Lait | 23 July 1996 - 2 May 1997 |
| Assistant Whips | Peter Ainsworth | 23 July 1996 - 2 May 1997 |
| Assistant Whips | Matthew Carrington | 12 December 1996 - 2 May 1997 |
| Foreign Secretary | Douglas Hurd | 26 October 1989 | |
| Foreign Secretary | Malcolm Rifkind | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Baroness Chalker of Wallasey | Continued in office – 1 May 1997 | also Minister of Overseas Development; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Tristan Garel-Jones | Continued in office – 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Hon. Douglas Hogg | Continued in office – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Alastair Goodlad | 15 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | David Heathcoat-Amory | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | David Davis | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Jeremy Hanley | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Sir Nicholas Bonsor | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | Continued in office - 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Tony Baldry | 20 July 1994 - 5 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Liam Fox | 23 July 1996 | |
| Minister for Overseas Development | Lynda Chalker | Continued in office | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 |
| Home Secretary | Kenneth Clarke | 11 April 1992 | |
| Home Secretary | Michael Howard | 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | The Earl Ferrers | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Michael Jack | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Peter Lloyd | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | David Maclean | 27 May 1993 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Michael Forsyth | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | The Baroness Blatch | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Ann Widdecombe | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Charles Wardle | 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Nicholas Baker | 20 July 1994 – 17 October 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Timothy Kirkhope | 17 October 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | The Hon. Tom Sackville | 28 November 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John Gummer | Continued in office | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Gillian Shephard | 24 May 1993 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Hon. William Waldegrave | 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Hon. Douglas Hogg | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | David Curry | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Michael Jack | 27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Tony Baldry | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Hon. Nicholas Soames | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Earl Howe | 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Angela Browning | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Tim Boswell | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Malcolm Rifkind | 15 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Michael Portillo | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | The Hon. Archie Hamilton | Continued in office | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Jeremy Hanley | 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | The Hon. Nicholas Soames | 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | Jonathan Aitken | 14 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | Roger Freeman | 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | James Arbuthnot | 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence | Viscount Cranborne | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence | The Lord Henley | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence | The Earl Howe | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Education | John Patten | 10 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for Education | Gillian Shephard | 20 July 1994 | Secretary of State for Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 |
| Minister of State, Education | The Baroness Blatch | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State, Education | Eric Forth | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | Minister of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 |
| Minister of State, Education and Employment | The Lord Henley | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education | Eric Forth | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education | Nigel Forman | 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education | Tim Boswell | 19 December 1992 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education | Robin Squire | 27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997 | Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment | James Paice | 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment | Cheryl Gillan | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | Gillian Shephard | 12 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | David Hunt | 27 May 1993 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | Michael Portillo | 20 July 1994 | Merged with the Office of Education 5 July 1995 |
| Minister of State, Employment | Michael Forsyth | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | Ann Widdecombe | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | The Viscount Ullswater | Continued in office – 16 September 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Patrick McLoughlin | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Ann Widdecombe | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | The Lord Henley | 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | James Paice | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Phillip Oppenheim | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Energy | Timothy Eggar | 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | under Office of Trade and Industry; became Minister of State, Energy and Industry 20 July 1994 |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Michael Howard | 11 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | John Gummer | 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | John Redwood | 15 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | David Curry | 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | Sir George Young | 28 November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | The Viscount Ullswater | 20 July 1994 | Post renamed Minister of State for Construction 6 July 1995 |
| Minister of State for Construction | Robert Jones | 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Environment and Countryside | David Maclean | 14 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State for Environment and Countryside | Tim Yeo | 27 May 1993 | |
| Minister of State for Environment and Countryside | Robert Atkins | 7 January 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Environment and Countryside | The Earl Ferrers | 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Tony Baldry | 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Lord Strathclyde | 15 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Robin Squire | 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Baroness Denton | 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Earl of Arran | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Sir Paul Beresford | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Robert Jones | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | James Clappison | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Health | Virginia Bottomley | 10 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for Health | Stephen Dorrell | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Health | Brian Mawhinney | 14 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State, Health | Gerry Malone | 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Hon. Tom Sackville | 14 April 1992 – 29 November 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Baroness Cumberlege | 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Tim Yeo | 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | John Bowis | 27 May 1993 – 23 July 1996 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | John Horam | 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Simon Burns | 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | Peter Lilley | 10 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | Nicholas Scott | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | William Hague | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | Alistair Burt | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | The Lord Henley | Continued in office - 16 September 1993 |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Ann Widdecombe | 30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Alistair Burt | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | William Hague | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | The Viscount Astor | 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | James Arbuthnot | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Roger Evans | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Andrew Mitchell | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Oliver Heald | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Hon. William Waldegrave | 11 April 1992 | also Minister for the Public Service |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | David Hunt | 20 July 1994 | also Minister for the Public Service |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Roger Freeman | 5 July 1995 | also Minister for the Public Service |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | Robert V. Jackson | 15 April 1992 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | David Davis | 27 May 1993 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | Robert Hughes | 20 July 1994 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | John Horam | 6 March 1995 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | David Willetts | 28 November 1995 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | vacant | 20 July 1996 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | Michael Bates | 16 December 1996 | |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | David Mellor | 11 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | Peter Brooke | 25 September 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | Stephen Dorrell | 20 July 1994 | |
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | Virginia Bottomley | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, National Heritage | Iain Sproat | 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage | Robert Key | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage | Iain Sproat | 27 May 1993 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage | The Viscount Astor | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage | The Lord Inglewood | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Sir Patrick Mayhew | 10 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Robert Atkins | 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Michael Mates | 15 April 1992 – 24 June 1993 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Sir John Wheeler | 25 June 1993 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Michael Ancram | 11 January 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Jeremy Hanley | 3 December 1990 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Earl of Arran | 22 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Michael Ancram | 27 May 1993 – 5 January 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Baroness Denton | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Tim Smith | 6 January 1994 – 20 October 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Malcolm Moss | 25 October 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Paymaster General | Sir John Cope | 14 April 1992 | also Minister of State, Treasury |
| Paymaster General | David Heathcoat-Amory | 20 July 1994 | also Minister of State, Treasury |
| Paymaster General | David Willetts | 20 July 1996 | |
| Paymaster General | Michael Bates | 16 December 1996 | |
| Minister without Portfolio | Jeremy Hanley | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister without Portfolio | Brian Mawhinney | 5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Ian Lang | 28 November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Michael Forsyth | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | Continued in office – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Allan Stewart | 28 November 1990 – 8 February 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Sir Hector Monro | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | George Kynoch | 8 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | The Earl of Lindsay | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Raymond Robertson | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs | The Earl Ferrers | 20 July 1994 | Under Office of Trade and Industry; office abolished 6 July 1995 |
| Minister for Trade | Richard Needham (The Earl of Kilmorey) | 14 April 1992 | |
| Minister for Trade | Anthony Nelson | 6 July 1995 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Michael Heseltine | 10 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Ian Lang | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister for Industry | Tim Sainsbury | 15 April 1992 - 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Strathclyde | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Minister of State, Energy and Industry | Timothy Eggar | 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State, Energy and Industry | Greg Knight | 23 July 1996 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Edward Leigh | Continued in office – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Neil Hamilton | 14 April 1992 – 25 October 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | The Baroness Denton | 14 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Jonathan Evans | 27 October 1994 – 29 November 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Patrick McLoughlin | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Strathclyde | 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Charles Wardle | 20 July 1994 – 11 February 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Ian Taylor | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Richard Page | 14 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Phillip Oppenheim | 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | John Mark Taylor | 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | John MacGregor | 10 April 1992 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Brian Mawhinney | 20 July 1994 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Sir George Young | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister for Public Transport | Roger Freeman | 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister for Railways and Roads | The Earl of Caithness | 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Minister for Railways and Roads | John Watts | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Kenneth Carlisle | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Steven Norris | 14 April 1992 – 23 July 1996 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Robert Key | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | The Viscount Goschen | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | John Bowis | 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | David Hunt | Continued in office | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | John Redwood | 27 May 1993 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | David Hunt | 26 June 1995 | (Acting) |
| Secretary of State for Wales | William Hague | 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Wales | Wyn Roberts | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Nicholas Bennett | 3 December 1990 – 14 April 1992 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Gwilym Jones | 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Rod Richards | 20 July 1994 – 2 June 1996 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Jonathan Evans | 2 June 1996 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Attorney General | Sir Patrick Mayhew | Continued in office | |
| Attorney General | Sir Nicholas Lyell | 9 April 1992 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Derek Spencer | 15 April 1992 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry | 15 April 1992 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Mackay of Drumadoon | 7 November 1995 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Thomas Dawson | 15 April 1992 | Not an MP |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Donald Mackay | 4 May 1995 | Not an MP |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Paul Cullen | 7 November 1995 | Not an MP |
| Treasurer of the Household | David Heathcoat-Amory | 15 April 1992 | |
| Treasurer of the Household | Greg Knight | 7 June 1993 | |
| Treasurer of the Household | Andrew MacKay | 23 July 1996 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | David Lightbown | 28 November 1990 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Timothy Wood | 7 July 1995 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Sydney Chapman | 15 April 1992 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Timothy Kirkhope | 7 July 1995 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Andrew MacKay | 18 October 1995 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Derek Conway | 23 July 1996 | |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Hesketh | 2 May 1991 | |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Viscount Ullswater | 16 September 1993 | |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Strathclyde | 20 July 1994 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Earl of Strathmore | 30 December 1991 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Earl of Arran | 20 July 1994 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Lord Inglewood | January 1995 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Lord Chesham | 8 July 1995 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Cavendish of Furness | Continued in office – 22 April 1993 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Astor | Continued in office – 16 September 1993 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Long | Continued in office – 2 May 1997 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount St Davids | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Goschen | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Baroness Trumpington | 22 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 15 October 1993 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Annaly | 18 March 1994 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Lucas of Crudwell | 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Baroness Miller of Hendon | 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Inglewood | 21 July 1994 – January 1995 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Earl of Lindsay | 12 January 1995 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Earl of Courtown | 8 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |