FOLLETT, Barbara

Member for Stevenage since 1997. Committees: Chair, Eastern Group of Labour MPs; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Pharmaceutical Industry; Member, Modernisation Select Committee 2001-05; Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party Women-s Committee, DTI Committee; Member, All-Party Parliamentary Film Group; Member, Associated Parliamentary Health Group; Member, International Development Select Committee 1997-2001. Political career: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions since 2007; Minister for the East of England since 2007; Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Ruth Kelly as Minister for Women 2006-07; Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, 2006-07 and as Minister for Women, 2005-06; Director, Emily-s List UK 1992; Parliamentary Candidate 1987; Parliamentary Candidate 1983. Special political interests: Modernisation, equalities, trade and industry. Education: London School of Economics, BSc Economics. Languages spoken: French. Affiliations: Amicus. Hobbies: Scrabble, reading, Star Trek. b. 25 December 1942, Kingston, Jamaica. Married with five children (two stepchildren).