Ivan Lewis was appointed as parliamentary under secretary of state for care services in May 2006. He was previously economic secretary to the Treasury from May 2005, having been parliamentary under secretary of state for skills and vocational education at the Department for Education and Skills since June 2003.

Before that he was parliamentary under secretary of state for young people and learning, parliamentary under secretary of state for adult learning and skills and then parliamentary under secretary of state for young people and adult skills at the DfES.