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Portfolio:

• Overall responsibility for the Department of Trade and Industry and its policies including leading on energy.
  

Biography:

The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP was appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry on 5 May 2006.

He was Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland from 29 May 2002 to 5 May 2006. Earlier, Alistair Darling was Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions from June 2001 to May 2002; Secretary of State for Social Security between July 1998 and June 2001, and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from May 1997 to July 1998.

Alistair Darling was the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 1996 to April 1997, Opposition Spokesman on the City and Financial Services between 1992 and July 1996 and in the Opposition Home Affairs Team from 1988-92.

Alistair Darling attended Loretto School, Musselburgh, and studied law at Aberdeen University. He worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh before being called to the Scottish Bar and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1984. He was elected Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Central in 1987.

Previously, he was a member of Lothian Regional Council, and Chairman of the Council's Transport Committee.

Alistair Darling is married to Margaret Vaughan and has two children.

Ministers Speeches

• 23 May 2007 Statement on the Energy White Paper and Consultation on the Future of Nuclear Power
• 17 May 2007 Statement on the Post Office
• 14 May 2007 "Why European Energy Policy Matters"
• 24 April 2007 10th International Russian Economic Forum
• 18 April 2007 Nuclear Workers - Statement to the House
• 17 April 2007 North West Science Strategy Launch
• 29 March 2007 "Securing Energy for the Future"
• 27 March 2007 Budget Speech
• 23 March 2007 CBI / QinetiQ - Innovation and Energy
• 28 February 2007 Mansion House - Lord Mayor's Trade and Industry Dinner
• 27 February 2007 TUC/CIPD Retirement and Age Equality Conference
• 08 February 2007 Launch of the Russian version of the Global Partnership Annual Report
• 23 January 2007 Equal Opportunities Commission - Transformation of Work Report
• 16 January 2007 The Third Annual India/UK Jetco Meeting
• 11 January 2007 2007 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Forum
• 11 January 2007 2nd Roundtable on Anglo-American corporate governance
• 14 December 2006 Post Office Network - House of Commons Statement
• 11 December 2006 Post Office Network - Support for Airbus Wing Programme
• 07 December 2006 Competitiveness Summit 2006
• 07 December 2006 Automotive Academy 4th Annual Lecture
• 28 November 2006 Globalisation and China - Future of Trade Policy
• 28 November 2006 UK/China Co-operation on Market Risk Management
• 27 November 2006 Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETC) presentation
• 21 November 2006 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Knowledge Transfer Challenge Awards
• 14 November 2006 'Making Plymouth Great' Business Breakfast
• 14 November 2006 Asian Trader Awards
• 31 October 2006 Speech to the Federation of Small Businesses
• 23 October 2006 "Science is vital for our future"
• 10 October 2006 First Annual UK/India Investment Summit
• 11 July 2006 Energy Review - Statement