Biography

Born

Coatbridge, 1947.

Education

Stirling University; Jordanhill College of Education; Glasgow University.

Committee membership

Select Committee European Scrutiny (Chair 2005-2010); Chair, 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.

Council of Europe

UK delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Member of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education. Member of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee.

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;Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation.

Career

Teacher.

Leisure interests

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

Family

Married with one son, one daughter and three grand-children.