From 1951 he held junior ministerial office in successive Conservative administrations before, in 1960, he was promoted by Harold Macmillan to Secretary of State for War, a senior post outside the cabinet.
He was promoted by Harold Macmillan to Secretary of State for War. This was in 1960. This was before. This was what he held junior ministerial office in successive Conservative administrations from 1951. War was a senior post outside the cabinet.