The title Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland was informally used to describe UK Government Minister The Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, between 6 May 2005 and 27 June 2007, when he held the dual positions of Secretary of State for Wales and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. However, the two positions remained legally separate despite the perception of a combined office. During the latter part of the Blair Ministry and the first year of the Brown Ministry (covering the period 2003-2008), it was common for the Prime Minister to appoint the Secretary of State for Wales and Secretary of State for Scotland to another Cabinet role concurrently.