ARBUTHNOT, James Rt Hon

Member for North East Hampshire since 1997. Committees: Chairman, Defence Select Committee since 2005; Member, Intelligence and Security Select Committee 2001-05; Member, Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform 2002-03; All-Party Pension Group; All-Party Mull of Kintyre Group. Political career: Shadow Secretary of State for Trade 2003-05; Opposition Chief Whip 1997-2001; Minister of State, Ministry of Defence 1995-97; Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Social Security 1994-95; Government Whip 1992-94; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Peter Lilley, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 1990-92; PPS to Archie Hamilton, Minister of State for Armed Forces 1988-90; Parliamentary Candidate for Cynon Valley 1983 and 1984 (by-election). Special political interests: Pensions, intelligence and security, defence. Profession/Trade: Barrister. Title/Honours/Decorations: Privy Counsellor 1998. Education: Wellesley House, Eton College (Captain of the School); Trinity College, Cambridge, Honours Degree in Law. Hobbies: Playing guitar, skiing, cooking, computers. b. 4 August 1952, Deal, Kent. Married with four children.