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Portfolio

Formerly responsible for:

• Trade policy (a shared BERR/DFID responsibility)
• EU competitiveness and the Single Market
• Services Directive
• Consumer affairs
• Competition issues
• Retail business sector
  

Biography

Gareth Thomas left the Department following the ministerial reshuffle of 5 June 2009 to become Minister of State at the Department for International Development (DFID).

He was appointed joint Minister of State for the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for International Development (DFID) on 5 October 2008. He had previously held the position of Parliament Under-Secretary of State for DFID and BERR from 29 June 2007.

From 2003 to June 2007 he was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the DFID with responsibility for Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Overseas Dependent Territories. He was also DFID's Green Minister with responsibility for the department's environmental performance in relation to the Sustainable Development in Government Framework and targets.

Gareth was a Member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee from November 1997 to October 1999. Prior to his appointment as PUSS at DFID, he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the former Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke MP.

He was elected Member of Parliament for Harrow West in May 1997.

Minister's Speeches

• 08 June 2009 Raising confidence in the home improvement sector
• 14 May 2009 The future challenge for consumer lending
• 13 May 2009 Building Consumer Confidence
• 11 May 2009 National Federation of Sub-Postmasters Annual Conference
• 28 April 2009 Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Annual Staff Event
• 21 April 2009 SEEDA Regional Lending Roadshow
• 24 March 2009 London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• 11 February 2009 Trade and Investment Relations with India
• 16 January 2009 Institute of Civil Engineers Reception
• 16 January 2009 Speech to British business community in Vietnam
• 15 January 2009 Taiwan/British Chamber of Commerce lunch
• 15 January 2009 UK Taiwan Trade Talks
• 09 December 2008 Consumer Focus Reception
• 08 December 2008 BBE/Pre Genesis Conference Reception
• 17 November 2008 National Consumer Week
• 17 November 2008 Masdar Partnership Event
• 06 November 2008 Council of Foreign Chamber of Commerce
• 06 November 2008 UK-Algeria Trade and Investment Conference
• 30 October 2008 Prowess National Policy Centre
• 30 October 2008 The DDA trade landscape
• 24 April 2008 EU-India Trade Relations
• 07 February 2008 LACORS Year Ahead Leadership Conference
• 14 November 2007 Services Directive
• 12 November 2007 National Consumer Week