Member of Parliament for Greenwich 1992-1997 and for Greenwich and Woolwich since 1997.

Born 1945. Married with 3 children. Lives in Blackheath, London SE3.

Made Privy Councillor – January 2001

Ministerial Career:
Minister of State for Local and Regional Government (Jul 01 to May 05).
Minister of State for Housing and Planning (Jul 99 to Jun 01).
Minister of State for Housing, Planning and London (July 99 – Sep 99).
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for London and Construction) (May 97 to Jul 99).

Main ministerial achievements:
Creation of the Greater London Authority and procurement of City Hall.
Commissioning and implementation of Egan Report “Rethinking Construction”.
Publication of “Quality and Choice” Green Paper on Housing policy and implementation of Urban Renaissance Planning and Regeneration policies.
Publication of 2001 Local Government White Paper, passage of 2003 Local Government Act and implementation of new performance management regime for local Councils.
Commissioning of the Bain Report and subsequent Fire Service White Paper and legislation, implementation of Fire Service modernisation programme and handling 2002-03 fire dispute.
Setting up and Chairing London Resilience Forum to oversee London’s preparedness to deal with emergencies 2001-05. Oversight of regional resilience arrangements in English regions 2003-05.

Current posts held:
Deputy Chair of Construction Industry Council (2005-6) and Chairman Designate for 2006.
Chair, NHBC Foundation (2005- )
Chair of Open House Supporters Group (2005 - )
Chair, Fire Protection Association Council (2005 - )
Non-Executive Director, Rockpools (2005 - )
Non-Executive Director, Hometrack (2006 - )
Vice President, Town and Country Planning Association (2005 - )
Honorary Fellow, Institution of Civil Engineers (2003 - )
Honorary Fellow, Royal Town Planning Institute (2005 - )
President, Labour Housing Group (2005 – )

Previous Parliamentary and political career:
Shadow Minister for Housing and Construction and Spokesperson for London (1994-1997).
Front Bench Spokesperson for London (1993-1994).
Member of the House of Commons Environment Select Committee (1992-1993).
Member of Parliament for Fulham (1986-1987).
Councillor, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (1971-1975).

Previous employment:
Director of Raynsford & Morris, Housing consultants (1987-1992).
Director of SHAC, The London Housing Aid Centre (1976-1986).
SCD – The Society of Co-operative Dwellings, and AC Nielsen, Market Research.

Main achievements in previous career:
Rebuilding Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and creation of Riverside Studios Arts Centre.
Campaign to secure passage of 1997 Housing (Homeless Persons Act).

Publications and other interests:
Author of “A Guide to Housing Benefits” (First edition 1982), “Making sense of localism” (2004), “Choice cuts” (2004).
Regular contributor to various magazines including “Building” and “Roof” and “Municipal Journal”.
Member of the National Energy Foundation (1989-1993).

Academic qualifications:
Degree in History, University of Cambridge (1966).
Diploma in Art and Design, Chelsea School of Art (1972).