TOUHIG, Don Rt Hon

Member for Islwyn since 1995. Committees: Member, Labour Party Backbench Committee since 2007; Member, Public Accounts Committee since 2006; Member, Backbench Departmental Committees for Home Affairs, Trade and Industry, HM Treasury, Health 1997-2001; Chair, Co-operative Party Group 1999; Member, Welsh Affairs Select Committee 1996-97; Member, Labour Leadership Campaign Team (responsible for Devolution in Wales) 1996-97; Member of the following Standing Committees: Police Bill 1997; Finance Bill 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Jurisdiction (Conspiracy and Incitement) Bill 1997; Knives Bill 1997; Damages Bill 1996; Criminal Procedure and Investigations Bill 1996; Crime Sentences Bill 1996; Equal Opportunities Bill 1995; Criminal Appeals Bill 1995. Political career: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans, Ministry of Defence 2005-06; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales 2001-05; Government Whip with special responsibility for Wales 1999-2001; Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997-99; Press Officer for Glenys Kinnock in 1994 Euro Election; Member, Executive Committee of Wales Labour Party; Chair, Estates Committee, Gwent County Council; Chair, Finance Committee, Gwent County Council; Constituency President; joined Gwent County Council 1973; joined TGWU 1966; joined Labour Party 1962. Special political interests: Treasury, employment, health, education, local and regional government. Profession/Trade: Print manager, former editor and journalist of the Free Press Group of Newspapers. Title/Honours/Decorations: Papal Knight of the Order of St Sylvester; Member of the Privy Council. Education: St Francis School, Abersychan; East Monmouth College. Affiliations: many community affiliations including: President, National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales; Islwyn Drug and Alcohol Project; Patron, Everyones Child Romania; MENCAP; MENSA; President, National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales; Honorary Member, Blackwood Rotary Club; Member, TGWU. Hobbies: Reading, walking, classical music, cooking. b. 5 December 1947, Abersychan, Gwent. Married with four children.