Speakers

Phil Woolas MP
Minister for the Environment

Phil Woolas joined the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as Minister of State for the Environment in June 2007. His responsibilities as Minister of State for the Environment, include Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Water.

Before joining Defra, PhiI was the Minister for Communities and Local Government, where he supported the Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly, in her work across the Sustainable Communities agenda. Previously,

Mr Woolas was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, and has held roles including Government Whip and Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

He contested the 1995 Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election and has been Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 1 May 1997.

Before entering Parliament, he was Head of Communications at the GMB trade union (91-97) and previously a television producer for the BBC and ITN (88-90). He was President of the NUS from (84-86).  He is a graduate in Philosophy from Manchester University and he is married with two sons.