Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston since 1992. Committees: House of Commons Committees: Member, Parliamentary Labour Party Departmental Committee on Employment since 1994; Member, Parliamentary Labour Party Departmental Committee on Environment since 1994; Joint Vice-Chair, Parliamentary Information Technology Committee since 1997; Vice-President, Parliamentary and Scientific Committee 2000-03; Joint Human Rights Committee 2001; Information Committee 1992-01; Treasurer, Parliamentary and Scientific Committee 1997-2000; Member, Science and Technology Select Committee 1992-97; Board Member, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) 1993-97; Vice-Chair, Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology 1992-97. Other Committees: Chair, Associate Parliamentary Group for Justice for Road Traffic Victims since 1999; Patron, RoadPeace, Chester Childbirth Trust, Parents Against Drug Abuse since 1994; Director, European Informatics Market (EURIM) 1994-98; Council Member of EURIM since 1997;Chair, NW Parliamentary Labour Party 1996-97; President, Computing for Labour since 1993; Member, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) previously Anti-Apartheid since 1992; Honorary Life Member, League Against Cruel Sports since 2000; Member, Scientists for Labour. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry since 2001; Member, First Steps Team working with the Foreign Office to promote relations with EU and prospective EU member states with specific responsibility for Hungary and Malta since 2001; Chair, Leadership Campaign Team 1997-98. Special political interests: Science and technology, communications and information technology, regional economy, industry, environment. Education: London School of Economics, Diploma in Industrial Relations. Affiliations: Member, MSF (Amicus). Author of: Information and Communication Technology Tools for Better Government. Hobbies: Music, photography, tennis, cricket.
b. 23 March 1949, Middlesex. Married with three children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	20,371	48.4	-6.9	22,964	55.3
Conservative	13,885	33	3.9	12,103	29.1
Lib Dem	6,607	15.7	4.1	4,828	11.6
UKIP	1,206	2.9	0.9	824	2
Green	-	-	-	809	1.9
Majority	6,486	15.4		10,861	26.2
Turnout	42,069	61.6	0.7	41,528	60.9