Profile

Labour Peer

Entered the House of Lords on 23 June 2010

Previously MP for South Dorset until 12 April 2010 — General election (stood again)

Entered the House of Commons on 7 June 2001 — General election

Also represented South Dorset

• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile

Social Media

• @jimknightmp
• UK Parliament Profile

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009

Topics of interest

• Defence
• Culture Media and Sport
• Deputy Prime Minister
• Trade and Industry
• Education and Skills
• Departmental Policies (South Dorset)
• Departmental Sponsorship
• Wind Turbines
• Local Government Finance (Dorset)
• Local Government Finance

Currently held offices

• Member, Communications and Digital Committee (since 31 Jan 2024)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Education for 11–16 Year Olds Committee (31 Jan 2023 to 23 Nov 2023)
• Member, Draft Online Safety Bill (Joint Committee) (22 Jul 2021 to 30 May 2024)
• Member, National Plan for Sport and Recreation Committee (15 Oct 2020 to 24 Nov 2021)
• Member, Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee (13 Jun 2019 to 16 Jun 2022)
• Member, Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities Committee (17 May 2018 to 19 Mar 2019)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (17 Oct 2011 to 18 Jul 2014)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions) ( 8 Oct 2010 to 5 Sep 2011)
• Minister of State (the South West), Regional Affairs (10 Jun 2009 to 11 May 2010)
• Minister of State (the South West), Department for Work and Pensions (10 Jun 2009 to 11 May 2010)
• Minister of State (Regional Affairs) (South West) ( 9 Jun 2009 to 6 May 2010)
• The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions ( 9 Jun 2009 to 6 May 2010)
• Minister of State (Schools and Learners), Department for Children, Schools and Families (13 Jul 2007 to 10 Jun 2009)
• Minister of State (Department for Children, Schools and Families) (Schools and Learners) (29 Jun 2007 to 9 Jun 2009)
• Minister of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (28 Jun 2007 to 13 Jul 2007)
• Minister of State (Schools and 14-19 Learners), Department for Education and Skills ( 3 Aug 2006 to 28 Jun 2007)
• Minister of State (Schools), Department for Education and Skills ( 6 Jun 2006 to 3 Aug 2006)
• Minister of State, Department for Education and Skills ( 8 May 2006 to 6 Jun 2006)
• Minister of State (Education and Skills) (Schools and 14-19 Learners) ( 5 May 2006 to 28 Jun 2007)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (17 Jun 2005 to 8 May 2006)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (11 May 2005 to 17 Jun 2005)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity) (10 May 2005 to 5 May 2006)
• PPS (Team PPS), Department of Health (10 Apr 2005 to 11 Apr 2005)
• PPS (Ms Rosie Winterton, Minister of State), Department of Health (13 May 2004 to 10 Apr 2005)
• Member, Defence Committee (16 Jul 2001 to 20 Oct 2003)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill Committee (18 out of 18)
• Education and Skills Bill Committee (20 out of 20)
• Commons Bill Committee (4 out of 4)
• Education and Inspections Bill Committee (6 out of 21)
• Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill Committee (9 out of 9)
• Fire and Rescue Services Bill Committee (8 out of 11)
• School Transport Bill Committee (2 out of 4)
• Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Human Tissue Bill Committee (6 out of 8)
• Sex Discrimination (Clubs and Other Private Associations) Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Crime (International Co-operation) Bill Committee (6 out of 8)
• Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill Committee (5 out of 5)
• Water Bill Committee (7 out of 11)
• Licensing Bill Committee (16 out of 17)
• International Development Bill Committee (4 out of 4)

Recent appearances

• Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Second Reading 1 May 2025

  My Lords, I declare my education interests as set out in the register, in particular my chairmanship of the E-ACT Multi-Academy Trust, where we are enjoying recent “outstanding” Ofsted judgments in schools, while applying the national curriculum. This is a good Bill. It is necessary legislation to tackle a legacy in which vulnerable children have become more vulnerable, and schools are...

• The Future of News (Communications and Digital Committee Report) - Motion to Take Note 25 Apr 2025

  My Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Stowell, not only for the excellent way in which she introduced this debate but for the tremendous job she did in chairing the Communications and Digital Committee. She led with energy and purpose, which was much appreciated by us all. This is a critically important debate that goes to the heart of the future of democracy. A healthy...

• Written Answers — Department for Education: Schools: Catering 10 Apr 2025

  To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms exist to ensure that catering contracts agreed by schools and academies comply with the duty in the Children and Families Act 2014 to support pupils with medical conditions, by including provision for children with conditions such as coeliac disease and severe food allergies to have access to the same opportunities as others, including safe meals.

More of Lord Knight of Weymouth’s recent appearances