WOOLAS, Philip

Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 1997. Committees: Minimum Wage Standing Committee 1999; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Clothing and Textiles 1998; Member, All-Party Cricket Club and All-Party Media Group. Political career: Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since 2007; Minister of State Local Government and Community Cohesion 2006-07; Minister of State for Local Government 2005-06; Deputy Leader, House of Commons 2003-05; Lord Commissioner to the Treasury (Whip) 2002-03; Assistant Whip 2001-02; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Lord McDonald 1999-2001; Chair, Board of Tribune Publications and Vice- Chair of Tribune Group in Parliament; GMB, Head of Communications 1991-97; Parliamentary Candidate for Littleborough and Saddleworth 1995. Profession/Trade: Political Producer, Channel 4 News 1990-91, BBC Newsnight; President, National Union of Students 1984-86. Special political interests: Employment rights, broadcasting, trade unions, industry, social exclusion, minimum wage, broadcasting. Education: University of Manchester, BA (Hons) Philosophy. Affiliations: GMB; Board of Tribune Newspapers; Lancashire County Cricket; Groucho. Hobbies: Photography. b. 11 December 1959, Scunthorpe. Married with two children.