Political Biography

Career Summary

National Coal Board 1965-84 Mineworker Employment Training Scheme Supervisor Midlothian Council 1987-89 Placement and Training Officer Craigmillar Festival Society 1989-92 Chief Executive, Craigmillar Opportunities Trust 1992-2000 Member of Parliament, 2001-

Directorships

Chairman, MITT (Midlothian Innovation Technology Trust) 2002 - ongoing
Midlothian Chamber of Commerce - Past
Midlothian Enterprise Trust – Past

Before becoming MP

Coalminer – 1965 -1984
Working at Easthouses Colliery, Bilston Glen Colliery, Rufford Colliery NOTTS and Monktonhall Colliery

Midlothian Council – 1987 – 1989

Employment Scheme Supervisor

Craigmillar Festival Society – Placement/Training Officer 1989-1992 Craigmillar Opportunities Trust – Chief Executive 1992 – 2000

Elected Councillor for Midlothian (Woodburn Ward) 1995-2001 Chair of Strategic Services incorporating Transportation, Economic Development and Strategic Planning

Held various positions in COSLA as spokesperson for the 32 authorities in Scotland - including Transport, Europe and Economic Development remits.

Elected MP for Midlothian 2001 – 2005. Re-elected 2005 – for the new constituency which includes Penicuik.

Trade Union experience

NUM 1965 – ongoing
Union Delegate Monktonhall 1976 - 1985
Chair of Joint Committees – NUM, SCEPTA, NACODS AND COSA

Political Service

Midlothian Council - Convenor of Strategic Services Committee, 1995-2001
Strategic Services Cabinet Member 1995-2001 with portfolio covering Economic Development, Transportation, Strategic Development.

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) - Chair of Economic Development, Planning and Transport Committee 1997-99
Spokesman for Economic Development and Tourism, 1999-2001

Other Positions Held

Chair of Dalkeith Labour Party
Executive Member, C.L.P.
Trade Union Officer to C.L.P.
European, Regional and District Councils Delegate

Parliamentary Service

Select Committees - Procedures Committee 2001
Broadcasting Committee 2001
Scottish Affairs Committee 2001
Department for Work and Pensions 2003

Backbench Committees - Scottish Labour MPs 2001 - elected to Executive in 2002
PLP Trade and Industry
PLP Trade Union Group
PLP Socialist Group
PLP Parliamentary Affairs Group
All-Party Groups - Non-profit-making Members Clubs Group
Older People’s Health Group
British Singapore Group
British Russian Group
Burma Group
Cyprus Group
Gibralter Group
Parliamentary Group - Parliamentary Beer Group
British/American Group
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Special Interests - Economic development
Transport
Social Inclusion
Energy
Biotechnology