The Rt. Hon. Peter Hain,
Leader of the House of Commons

Mr Hain was appointed Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for Wales on 12 June 2003.

Mr Hain was a junior minister at the former Welsh Office from 1997 to 1999.

He was Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1999 to 2001; he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry in 2001 and became Minister for Europe at the FCO later that year. Mr Hain achieved international prominence as a result of his work in the anti-apartheid movement.

He played a leading role in the campaign to secure a 'Yes' vote in the 1997 devolution referendum in Wales.

He is a former head of research with the Union of Communication Workers and a former chairman of the Tribune newspaper. He was made a Labour Whip in 1995.

Born in Nairobi and brought up in South Africa, Mr Hain was educated at Pretoria Boys High School, University of London and Sussex University.

Responsibilities