Member for North Wiltshire since 1997. Committees: Member, Procedure Select Committee since 2010; Member, Finance and Services Select Committee since 2010; Member, Chairmen`s Panel/Panel of Chairs since 2010; Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces since 2010; Vice-Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Education since 2010; Vice Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet since 2009; Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Army since 2004; Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) since 2003; Treasurer, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self Harm Prevention; Member, Defra Select Committee 2007-10; Chairman, Conservative Rural Action Group 2002-04; Chairman, Horse and Pony Taxation Committee and Consultant to the British Horse Industry Confederation 1999-2002; Co-Chairman, All-Party Minerals Group 1997-2001; Vice-Chairman, Conservative Backbench DETR Committee 1998-2000; Vice-Chairman, Conservative Backbench Agricultural Committee 1997-2000; Member, DETR Select Committee 1997-2000. Political career: Speakers Panel since 2010; Parliamentary Delegate to Council of Europe and Western European Union 2007-08; Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland May 2005; Shadow Minister for the Countryside 2002-05; Shadow Defence Minister 2001-02; Opposition Whip 2000-01; Deputy Chairman, Wandsworth Tooting Conservative Association 1994-96 (previously Vice-Chairman and Branch Chairman); Special Adviser to John Gummer, Secretary of State, DoE 1993-95; Special Adviser to Michael Howard, Secretary of State, DoE 1992-93; Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Ross Cromarty and Skye 1992. Special political interests: The countryside, agriculture, environment, defence. Profession/Trade: Member, The Baltic Exchange since 1997, and 1978-91; Director, Westminster Strategy (Public Affairs Consultants) 1995-97; Senior Manager, GNI Ltd (Futures Brokers) 1989-92; Director, Baltic Futures Exchange 1989-91; Managing Director, GNI Freight Futures Ltd 1985-92; Shipbroker and Department Manager, Anderson Hughes Ltd 1978-84; Graduate Management Trainee, P & O 1977-78. Title/Honours/Decorations: Freeman, City of London. Education: Christ Church, Oxford; Glasgow University, MA (Hons); The High School of Glasgow. Affiliations: Active service in Honourable Artillery Company 1977-84; Member, Avon Vale Foxhounds; Honorary Member, Rotary Club of the Wiltshire Vale; President, Chippenham Constitutional Club; Member, Wootton Bassett Branch, Royal British Legion; Honorary Associate, British Veterinary Association. Author of: Crown vs Parliament: Who decides on Going to War (2003, Seaford House Papers - Prize Winner); Shipping Futures (1990); Futures and Options for Shipping (1987) (winner of Lloyds of London Book Prize); Financial Risk Management (1985). Hobbies: The countryside, riding horses, British heritage, local history, the army, China. b. 7 November 1954. Divorced. Remarried in 2009. Three children. |
