Josh Simons MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology following approval by the King on 9 January 2026. He will continue as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-9-january-2026?utm_source=openai))
Simons was elected as the MP for Makerfield in July 2024 and has served as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office since 7 September 2025, acting as maternity cover for Satvir Kaur MP. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/people/josh-simons?utm_source=openai)) His Cabinet Office brief supports the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office on cross‑government priorities including inquiries policy, infected blood compensation delivery, public service reform, counter‑fraud, and sponsorship of the UK Statistics Authority. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-secretary--16?utm_source=openai))
The appointment notice does not set out a specific DSIT portfolio for Simons. DSIT indicates that individual responsibilities for junior ministers are published separately on GOV.UK, with portfolios listed on minister pages once confirmed. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-9-january-2026?utm_source=openai))
DSIT’s published remit includes accelerating innovation and productivity through science and R&D, ensuring technologies are safely developed and deployed, and advancing a modern digital government. The department also leads on R&D funding policy. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology/about?utm_source=openai))
Recent departmental plans referenced in DSIT’s 2025–26 Main Estimate memorandum include establishing a National Data Library to provide secure access to public data, creating a Regulatory Innovation Office to speed access to new technologies, and allocating £42 million for AI ‘exemplars’ in public services. DSIT has also trailed 10‑year R&D budgets to give long‑term certainty for partnerships. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dsit-main-estimate-memorandum-2025-to-2026/dsit-main-estimate-memorandum-2025-to-2026?utm_source=openai))
Simons’s continuing Cabinet Office responsibilities-particularly public service reform, counter‑fraud and UK Statistics Authority sponsorship-touch areas that frequently interface with DSIT’s data and digital agenda. Policy Wire analysis: this overlap is likely to matter for organisations engaging on statistical governance and secure data access, including programmes such as the National Data Library. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-secretary--16?utm_source=openai))
For policy teams across government, arm’s‑length bodies and research institutions, the practical next step is to prepare engagement plans pending publication of Simons’s DSIT brief. Portfolio pages for DSIT junior ministers are issued on GOV.UK and will clarify lines of accountability for ongoing initiatives once available. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-science-innovation-and-technology?utm_source=openai))