GRIFFITHS, Nigel

Member for Edinburgh South since 1987. Committees: Member Welsh Affairs Select Committee since 2005; Member, Reform of the House of Lords; Legislative Programme; Member Public Accounts Committee 1998-2001. Political career: Deputy Leader of the House of Commons 2005-07; Department of Trade and Industry 2001-05; Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs Department of Trade and Industry 1997-98; Opposition Spokesperson for Trade and Industry 1989-97; Opposition Party Whip 1987-89; Chair, Housing Committee 1985-87; Deputy Leader of the House of Commons; Minister for Construction, Small Business, Social Enterprise and Miners- Compensation; Chair, Scottish Charities Kosovo Appeal; former Rights Officer for a Disabilities Group; Edinburgh City Councillor 1980-87. Special political interests: Engineering; education; housing; health; social services; disability; Scotland; arts; economic policy; small businesses. Profession/Trade: Rights worker for the Action Group for People with Learning Disabilities 1979-87. Titles, Honours, Decorations: Honorary President of the Action Group. Education: University of Edinburgh, MA (Hons). Affiliations: Member, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Member, Edinburgh Festival Council 1984-87; Co-founder Scotland-s first Fair Trade Organisation (SEAD); Chair, Scottish Charities Kosovo Appeal since 1999; Member, Council of Edinburgh University-s Royal Dick Veterinary School since 1996; Member, Council of the Royal Observatory, Scotland; Member, Friends of the Earth; TGWU/Usdaw; Amnesty International; National Trust; Founder of the Western Hailes Citizen Advice Bureau; Member, Edinburgh Festival Council; Finance Convenor of the Scottish Constitutional Convention; Vice-President, Institute of Training Standards Administration. Author of: various -Rights Guides-. Hobbies: Reading, badminton, rock-climbing, architecture, archaeology, music, mountaineering, art. b. 20 May 1955. Married.