Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Majority: 11,202

Born: Coatbridge, 1947

Education: Stirling University; Jordanhill College of Education; Glasgow University

Committee membership: Select Committee European Scrutiny; Board Member, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); Backbench Labour Party Departmental Committee Treasury; Backbench Labour Party Departmental Committee Department for Work and Pensions; Backbench Labour Party Departmental Committee Department for International Development;

All Party Groups: Offshore Oil and Gas Industry (Secretary); Nuclear Industry Group (Secretary); Chemical Industry Group (Secretary); Haemophilia Group (Chair); Peru Group (Chair); Humanist Group (Secretary); Jazz Appreciation Group (Chair).

Organisation membership: TGWU; EIS; CWU Parliamentary Liaison Group (Secretary); International Parliamentary Union; Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; British American Parliamentary Group; Socialist Education Association

Political career: JP (77-90); Stirling District Council (Councillor)(77-90); Stirling District Council (Council Leader) (80-90); Elected to Westminster (92-); PPS to Tom Clarke (Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (97-98)
Political interests: Economy and Enterprise; International Development; European Union; Industry; Skills and Training; Youth Affairs; Crime; Drug Abuse; Small Business

Career: Teacher

Leisure interests: Family, Music (Jazz and Classical); Hillwalking; Reading.

Family: Married with one son, one daughter and one granddaughter