the minister of space biography

[radioactive]

Space Minister

Malcolm Wicks MP is Minister of State for Science and Innovation.

Malcolm Wicks was appointed Minister of State for Science and Innovation on 10 November 2006, having previously been Minister of State for Energy at the Department of Trade and Industry since May 2005.

The Minister's Portfolio includes the British National Space Centre (BNSC), Science and Engineering, 10 year investment framework for science and innovation, Office of Science and Innovation (OSI), Research Councils, Knowledge Transfer and innovation, Technology Strategy, Patent Office, National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML), Bioscience and DTI's interest in skills.

Before joining DTI, Mr Wicks was Minister of State for Pensions (June 2003 - May 2005) and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work (June 2001 - June 2003) at the Department for Work and Pensions, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Lifelong Learning at the Department for Education and Employment (appointed July 1999). Mr Wicks was the Chairman of the Education Select Committee from 1998 until his appointment as a Minister. He has been Member of Parliament for Croydon North since 1992.

Mr Wicks was educated at North West London Polytechnic and the London School of Economics. Between 1974 and 1977, he was a university lecturer and from 1968 to 1974 a social policy analyst at the Home Office. He was Director of the Family Policy Studies Centre before entering Parliament. He is the author of several books and reports on aspects of the welfare state.

Mr Wicks has been a member of the Social Security Select Committee. His Private Member's Bill, now the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act, came into force in April 1996. From 1995 Mr Wicks was the Opposition spokesperson on social security.

Mr Wicks is married with three children. His recreations are music, walking and gardening.

information taken from http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/content.aspx?nid=5549

[GazOC]

His recreations are music, walking and gardening.

They'll come in handy for his new position....