SPRING, Richard

Member for West Suffolk since 1997. Committees: Appointed to the Home Affairs Select Committee January 2006; Member, British-American Parliamentary Group; Deputy Chair, Small Business Bureau; Chair, Small Business Bureau, Parliamentary Advisory Group; Member, Inter- Parliamentary Union. Political career: Appointed Vice- Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for Business and Financial Services 2005; Co-Chairman of the Conservative City Circle 2005; Shadow Paymaster General May 2005; Shadow Minister for Financial Services 2004; Shadow Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2000; Shadow Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport 1997-2000; Member for Bury-St-Edmunds 1992-97; Chair, Westminster CPC 1990; Campaign Co-ordinator, Euro-Elections 1989; Ward Chair, Member of Executive, Westminster Constituency 1983-87; Parliamentary Candidate for Ashton-under-Lyne 1983. Special political interests: Economics, small business, agriculture. Profession/Trade: Company director. Education: University of Cape Town; Magdalene College, Cambridge, MA Economics. Affiliations: Governor, Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Hobbies: Country pursuits, English watercolours. b. 24 September 1946.