BENN, Hilary Rt Hon

Member for Leeds Central since June 1999 by-election. Committees: Member, Environment, Transport and the Regions Select Committee 1999-2001; Vice-Chair, Backbench Education Committee of Labour MPs 1999-2001. Political career: Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural affairs since 2007; Secretary of State for International Development 2003-07; Prisons and Probation Minister, Home Office 2002; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development since 2001; Special Advisor to the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Secretary of State for Education and Employment 1997-99; Chair, Management Committee of Unions 21 (the trade union think tank) 1995-99; Member, Labour Party into Power TaskForce on party democracy 1996-97; Member, Labour Party-s Environment Policy Commission 1994-97; MSF Representative, Labour Party National Policy Forum 1994-97; Ealing Council Performance Review Lead Member for Education 1994-97; Deputy Leader of the Labour Group 1984-94; Member, Association of Metropolitan Authorities Education Committee 1986-90; Chair, Association of London Authorities Education Committee 1988-90; Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing North 1983 and 1987 General Elections; Joint Secretary to the Finance Panel of the Labour Party Commission of Inquiry 1980; Councillor, London Borough of Ealing 1979-99; President of Ealing Acton Constituency Labour Party 1979-82. Special political interests: Environment; international development; Home affairs, urban regeneration, education. Education: Holland Park Comprehensive School; University of Sussex, BA (Hons) Russian Studies. Hobbies: Watching sport, gardening. b. 26 November 1953, Hammersmith, London. Married with four children