Tuesday 18 May
NEWS RELEASE
Ministerial appointments
The Prime Minister has announced the appointment of the Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal.
Sir George, MP for Hampshire North West, will be supported by Mr David Heath, CBE, MP for Somerton and Frome, who has been appointed Deputy Leader of the House.
Commenting on his new role, Sir George said: "I am delighted to have been appointed, and I am very pleased that David Heath will serve as my deputy
"As Leader of the House of Commons, I want to play my full part in setting our politics on a new path.
"As a former member of the Modernisation Committee and a former chairman of the Standards and Privileges Committee, I know how vital it is for our democracy to help to repair the damage done to the reputation of politics over the past year.
"No-one can or should doubt my commitment to the important task ahead of rejuvenating the public esteem for Parliament, and its relevance to the lives of all the people as the chief forum of our parliamentary system.
"Recent reforms in the previous Parliament are very welcome and potentially significant, but changing the culture in other ways cannot happen in one day. There is a need to convince people that we have taken seriously the reasons for their anger, deep concerns and sense of being let down. Of course, it will be challenging, but this is an opportunity for a fresh start. I am getting on with the job."
Mr Heath said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. We have a huge opportunity to reform the political processes of the House of Commons and ensure that it can do its job of scrutiny and holding the Government to account more effectively, and I look forward to the challenge of putting those reforms into effect. It's important that we reassert the central role of Parliament and demonstrate its relevance to the everyday lives of the people who we represent."
Biographical details:
Sir George Young
Sir George was born in 1941 to the son of a diplomat, and was educated at Eton and at Christ Church Oxford, where he won an Open Exhibition. He worked in the City for a brief spell before joining the National Economic Development Office from 1966 to 1967.
He was then Kobler Research Fellow at the University of Surrey, where he got an M.Phil, and from 1969 until 1974 he was Economic Adviser to the Post Office Corporation. In 1973, he published "Tourism: Blessing or Blight?"
Previous positions held: MP for Ealing Acton 1974-1997; MP for North West Hampshire 1997- ; Opposition Whip 1976-1979; Junior Health Minister 1979-1981; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of the Environment 1981-1986; Comptroller of the Household (Government Whip) 1990; Minister of State, Housing and Planning 1990-1994; Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1994-1995 ; Secretary of State for Transport 1995-1997; Shadow Defence Secretary 1997-1998; Shadow Leader of the House 1998-2000; Chairman Standards and Privileges Committee 2001-2009; Shadow Leader of the House 2009.
His interests outside of politics include cycling and music. Sir George has been married to Aurelia since 1964, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
Mr David Heath
David Heath was born in 1954 in Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset. He attended Millfield School and went on to study at St John's College Oxford, (MA Physiological Sciences) and the City University, London. On leaving University in 1979, he went into practice as a registered optician.
David was elected to Somerset County Council in 1985, remaining on the county council continuously until May 1997. He served as Leader of the Council from 1985 to 1989. He was a Member of the Audit Commission (1994-97). In 1989 he was awarded the CBE for political service.
At the 1997 general election, David was elected as MP for Somerton and Frome.
David was Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House since January 2009 and was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Commons in May 2010.
Media inquiries: 020 7276 0594
des.mccartan@commonsleader.x.gsi.gov.uk
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