GRAY, James

Member for Wiltshire North since 1997. Committees: Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Army since 2004; Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness; Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group on MS since 2003; Chairman, Conservative Rural Action Group 2002-04; Chairman, Horse and Pony Taxation Committee and Consultant to the British Horse Industry Confederation 1999-2002; Co-Chairman, All-Party Minerals Group 1997-2001; Vice-Chairman, Conservative Backbench DETR Committee 1998-2000; Vice-Chairman, Conservative Backbench Agricultural Committee 1997-2000; Member, DETR Select Committee 1997-2000; Member, Environment and Transport Sub-Committees 1997-2000; Honorary Secretary, All-Party Parliamentary Family Farms Group. Political career: Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland May 2005; Shadow Minister for the Countryside 2002-05; Shadow Minister, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2002-04; Shadow Defence Minister 2001-02; Opposition Whip 2000-01; Member, Deputy Chairman, Wandsworth and Tooting Conservative Association 1994-96 (previously Vice-Chairman and Branch Chairman); Special Advisor to John Gummer, Secretary of State, DoE 1993-95; Special Advisor to Michael Howard, Secretary of State, DoE 1992-93; Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Ross Cromarty and Skye 1992. Special political interests: The countryside, agriculture, environment, defence. Profession/Trade: Member, The Baltic Exchange since 1997, and 1978-91; Director, Westminster Strategy (Public Affairs Consultants) 1995-97; Senior Manager, GNI Ltd (Futures Brokers) 1989-92; Director, Baltic Futures Exchange 1989-91. Title/Honours/Decorations: Freeman, City of London. Education: The High School of Glasgow; Glasgow University, MA (Hons), (Millennium Patron); Christ Church, Oxford. Affiliations: Active service in Honourable Artillery Company; Member, Avon Vale Foxhounds; Honorary Member, Rotary Club of the Wiltshire Vale; Member, Chippenham Constitutional Club; Member, Biddestone and Slaughterford Branch, Royal British Legion; Honorary Associate, British Veterinary Society. Author of: Crown vs Parliament: Who decides on Going to War (2003, Seaford House Papers - Prize Winner); Shipping Futures (1990); Futures and Options for Shipping (1987) (winner of Lloyd-s of London Book Prize); Financial Risk Management (1985). Hobbies: The countryside, riding horses, British heritage, local history, the army, China. b. 7 November 1954. Married with three children.