The Minister for small business and e-commerce, Patricia Hewitt was formerly Economic Secretary at the Treasury. She is responsible in the Government for small firms and the Radiocommunications Agency.

She was educated at Canberra Girls' Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge, and worked as Press and Broadcasting Officer and Policy Co-ordinator to the Rt Hon Neil Kinnock.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, visiting the theatre, music and gardening. Ms Hewitt was promoted to Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry as part of Tony Blair's reshuffle.

Born in 1941, and educated in Glasgow, Jim Marshall is a former transport worker shop steward. He has served as chairman of the TGWU Group of 33 MPs and as co-chairman of PACTS.

He has also served on Labour's front bench as a Home Affairs and as Northern Ireland spokesperson, and represents the United Kingdom on the Council of Europe and the Western European Union.

2001 election results for Leicester South

Andy Reed was born in 1964, and educated in Leicestershire, in schools in Birstall, and at Leicester Polytechnic.

He has been Parliamentary Assistant to Keith Vaz MP, and worked for both Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council in the areas of economic development and urban regeneration.

He is a Director of Business Link in Loughborough, plays for Birstall Rugby Football Club, and supports Leicester Tigers. He also enjoys playing tennis and volleyball.

David Taylor was educated locally at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Grammar School, Leicester Polytechnic and the Open University. He was born in 1946, and he is a qualified Chartered Public Finance Accountant.

He works with various organisations including the CPRE and Greenpeace. He is the Chair of the North West Leicestershire Safer Communities Forum, and a church warden at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at Heather.

He is a member of Ibstock Working Mens' Club, enjoys running and cycling, and is President of the Heather Sparkenhoe Cricket Club.

David Taylor's constituents can contact him by email at
lp-centi@geo2.poptel.org.uk

2001 election results for Leicestershire North West

Born in 1957, Alan Duncan became a graduate trainee for Shell Petroleum and an adviser to governments on oil supply and refining. He was educated at St John's College, Oxford, and President of the Oxford Union in 1979.

He has written several books, speaks a little French, and lists his recreational pursuits as shooting, stalking (!) and fishing.

2001 election results for Rutland and Melton

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