Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Responsibilities
- Civil Law Policy
- Civil and family legal aid
- Criminal legal aid
- Women's penal policy
- Law Commission
- Legal Services Commission
- Social exclusion
- Land Registry
- Equalities
- Better Regulation
Biography
Vera Baird was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 9 May 2007. She was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs on 5 May 2006.
In 2000 she became a QC having worked as a criminal barrister mainly at the Old Bailey in London. She was elected to parliament in 2001 and has been member for Redcar since June 2001. Vera was a member of the joint committee for human rights 2001-03, and a member of the select committee for work and pensions 2003-05. From May 2005 until May 2006 she was parliamentary private secretary to the home secretary, then Charles Clarke. She is a Bencher of Gray's Inn and an honorary fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford.
Education
Newcastle University, LLB, then called to the Bar at Gray's Inn.