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Profile

Labour Peer

Entered the House of Lords on 3 December 2015

Previously MP for St Helens North until 30 March 2015 — General election

Entered the House of Commons on 1 May 1997 — General election

Also represented St Helens North

• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

• Health
• Education and Skills
• Defence
• Trade and Industry
• Environment Food and Rural Affairs
• Combat Clothing
• Magistrates
• Local Government Finance
• West Coast Main Line
• Middle East

Currently held offices

• Member, Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee (since 24 Jan 2024)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee (31 Jan 2023 to 27 Nov 2023)
• Member, Land Use in England Committee (12 May 2022 to 28 Nov 2022)
• Member, International Agreements Committee (23 Apr 2020 to 31 Jan 2024)
• Member, Gambling Industry Committee (13 Jun 2019 to 16 Jun 2020)
• Member, EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee (26 May 2016 to 23 Apr 2020)
• Member, House of Commons Governance Committee (16 Oct 2014 to 17 Dec 2014)
• Member, Administration Committee (26 Jul 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, Committees on Arms Export Controls (12 Jul 2010 to 2 Jul 2012)
• Member, Committees on Arms Export Controls (12 Jul 2010 to 2 Jul 2012)
• Member, Committees on Arms Export Controls (12 Jul 2010 to 2 Jul 2012)
• Member, Foreign Affairs Committee (12 Jul 2010 to 18 Jun 2012)
• Opposition Whip (Commons) (12 May 2010 to 1 Jun 2010)
• Member, Finance and Services Committee (17 Jul 2005 to 10 Oct 2005)
• The Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (10 May 2005 to 6 May 2010)
• PPS (Rt Hon John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (13 May 2004 to 11 Apr 2005)
• Member, Finance and Services Committee (14 Nov 1997 to 11 May 2001)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Pension Schemes Bill Committee (4 out of 10)
• Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill Committee (16 out of 18)
• Crime and Security Bill Committee (12 out of 12)
• Business Rate Supplements Bill Committee (7 out of 7)
• Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill Committee (8 out of 8)
• Local Transport Bill Committee (10 out of 10)
• Planning Bill Committee (18 out of 18)
• Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Housing Corporation (Delegation) etc. Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Education Bill Committee (1 out of 2)
• Marine Safety Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Railways and Transport Safety Bill Committee (18 out of 18)
• Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill Committee (2 out of 2)
• Social Security Fraud Bill Committee (3 out of 3)

Recent appearances

• Online Safety Legislation: Abuse on Social Media - Question 5 Sep 2024

  My Lords, is it not the case that Ofcom is letting down the public? What we need is to review the role of Ofcom and other regulators and, if they are failing to do their duties for the public, they should be removed from office.

• Civil Service: Recruitment - Question 4 Sep 2024

  As we are looking at public appointments, should we extend this to the BBC and Ofcom, because both those organisations seem to be dominated by Conservatives?

• Civil Service: Recruitment - Question 4 Sep 2024

  As we are looking at public appointments, should we extend this to the BBC and Ofcom, because both those organisations seem to be dominated by Conservatives?

More of Lord Watts’s recent appearances

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