Lindsay Hoyle MP – Chairman of Ways and Means
Lindsay (pictured, left) was elected Labour Member of Parliament for Chorley in 1997. Before entering Parliament, he served on Chorley Borough Council, being the youngest ever councillor to serve in Chorley when elected in 1980, at the age of 22. During his time on Chorley Borough Council, Lindsay acted as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee and initiated plans for the redevelopment of the Royal Ordnance site now better known as Buckshaw Village.
He also held the post of Deputy Leader from 1994 to 1997, and his time on the council finished on a high as Mayor of Chorley from 1997 to 1998.
During his time in Parliament, he was a member of the Trade and Industry Select Committee and campaigned on a number of on issues of concern to him, including defence, farming, trade and industry and tourism.
In 2010 Lindsay was re-elected, to represent Chorley at Westminster for the fourth time. Following this, he went on to become the first-ever elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Chairman of Ways and Means. Amongst Lindsay's other duties in the house he chairs the budget debate.
Outside of politics Lindsay likes to relax at home with his wife Catherine, who is a local borough Councillor. He enjoys reading, watching sport and in particular rugby league. As former Chairman of Chorley Rugby League Club, the game remains his personal favourite.
Nigel Evans MP – First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
Nigel (right) has been Member of Parliament for Ribble Valley since 1992. He was educated in is birthplace of Swansea at Dynevor School and then University College, where he received a BA in Politics. Nigel joined the Conservative Party in 1974, aged 17.
He was a councillor on West Glamorgan County Council from 1985 to 1991, and fought elections in Swansea West (1987) and Pontypridd (1989), before contesting Ribble Valley at a by-election in 1991.
In June 1997, Nigel was appointed front-bench spokesman for Welsh Affairs and joined the Constitutional Affairs team. In May 1999, William Hague appointed Nigel Evans as Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party. He also led the Party’s Information Technology for the Future group. In September 2001 Iain Duncan-Smith appointed Nigel Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, and in October 2003, Nigel was appointed to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.
In December 2005, Nigel returned to the backbenches to concentrate on his work in Parliament. He joined the Council of Europe and the Western European Union as an appointee of the Prime Minister. Nigel served for three years on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee until July 2009.
On 8th June 2010, Nigel was elected as one of three Deputy Speakers of the House of Commons. He now serves as First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means.
The Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP – Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
Dawn (centre) was born in London, spending most of her childhood in Crawley, Sussex, where she attended Thomas Bennett Comprehensive School. In 1973 she joined the Labour Party, while employed in an east London Law Centre.
A year later, Dawn married and moved to Bristol South, where she had a son and has lived ever since. When her son was three years old, Dawn decided to study for a social science degree at Bristol Polytechnic. She gained a BA (Hons) degree and conducted PhD research into women and housing until her studies were interrupted by her election to Parliament.
In 1985, Dawn was elected to Avon County Council, where she acted as vice chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee. In 1987, she was elected MP for Bristol South and was re-elected with an increased majority in 1992. Soon afterwards, she was promoted to Labour’s front bench team, firstly as Shadow Minister for Health and then as a member of the Opposition Treasury team.
Labour’s election victory in 1997 earned Dawn a role in the new Government, initially as Financial Secretary and then, in 1999, as Paymaster General. In 2007, Dawn was made Minister of State for Public Health, then, in June 2009, she was appointed Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, with the right to attend Cabinet when issues relating to her portfolio were discussed.
Following the 2010 General Election, Dawn was elected by fellow MPs to the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.