State Secretary (Dutch: Staatssecretaris) is the title of a junior member of the Cabinet of the Netherlands and Cabinet of the Belgium. A State Secretary is a member of the cabinet, who works under a Minister and falls under the responsibility of the Minister, but is separately responsible to Parliament. State Secretaries take over part of the minister's portfolio. Some State Secretaries have clearly defined portfolios like Culture, Science or the Environment, while others' portfolios overlap with their Minister. State Secretaries often have a different political affiliation than their Minister. State Secretaries do not attend the weekly Council of Ministers unless specifically invited.
The incumbent Second Rutte cabinet has the following State Secretaries.
| Position | Portfolio | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Secretary | Finance |
Frans Weekers | VVD | |
| State Secretary * | Security and Justice |
Fred Teeven | VVD | |
| State Secretary * | Economic Affairs |
Sharon Dijksma | PvdA | |
| State Secretary | Health, Welfare and Sport |
Martin van Rijn | PvdA | |
| State Secretary | Education, Culture and Science |
Sander Dekker | VVD | |
| State Secretary * | Infrastructure and the Environment |
Wilma Mansveld | PvdA | |
| State Secretary | Social Affairs and Employment ) |
Jetta Klijnsma | PvdA | |
Famous quotes containing the words state and/or secretary:
“Adjoining a refreshment stand ... is a small frame ice house ... with a whitewashed advertisement on its brown front stating, simply, “Ice. Glory to Jesus.” The proprietor of the establishment is a religious man who has seized the opportunity to broadcast his business and his faith at the same time.”
—For the State of New Jersey, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“... the wife of an executive would be a better wife had she been a secretary first. As a secretary, you learn to adjust to the boss’s moods. Many marriages would be happier if the wife would do that.”
—Anne Bogan, U.S. executive secretary. As quoted in Working, book 1, by Studs Terkel (1973)