BELL, Sir Stuart

Member for Middlesbrough since 1983. Committees: Chair, Finance and Services Select Committee since 2000; Chair, House of Commons Commission since 1999; Member, Ecclesiastical Committee since 1997. Political career: Second Church Estates Commissioner since 1997; Frontbench Spokesperson on Trade and Industry 1992-97; Frontbench Spokesperson on Northern Ireland 1984-87; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Roy Hattersley 1983-84; Member, Newcastle City Council 1980-83; Parliamentary Candidate, Hexham 1979. Special political interests: Europe, Middle East Affairs. Profession/Trade: Barrister. Title/Honours/Decorations: France 2006, Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur; Freedom of the City of London 2003. Education: Hookergate Grammar School, Durham; Grays Inn, London. Languages spoken: French (fluent). Affiliations: Member, Fabian Society, Society of Labour Lawyers, Co-operative Society, GMB. Author of: The Honoured Society (novel); Binkies Revolution (novel); Tony Really Loves Me (autobiography); Pathway to the Euro (pamphlet); How to Abolish the Lords (Fabian tract); When Salem Came to the Boro (factual account of Cleveland child abuse crisis); Days that Used to be (novel); Paris 69 (novel); The Ice Cream Man and Other Stories (collection of short stories); The Forward March: An Ever Closer Union (series of essays on the European Union). Hobbies: Short story and novel writing
b. 16 May 1938, Co Durham. Married with three children.