Minister, Department for Communities and Local Government, 2007 – 2009 

Minister with responsibility for:
Community Cohesion, encompassing: Race, Faith, Community Cohesion, the PREVENT agenda (preventing violent extremism)
The Fire and Rescue Service
Local Government encompassing: planning and infrastructure (including 2008 Planning Act), regional housing development plans, local democracy and e-government, local government finance

Minister, Department for Education, 2006 – 2007

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families.
Minister with responsibility for Sure Start, youth policy, children in care, adoption, international adoption and parenting policy.
Responsible for key legislation (including the 2006 Children’s’ Act and the 2007 Safeguarding Act). Implemented new standards for nutrition in school meals, capital for kitchens, local sourcing and the creation of the arms-length body: Schools’ Food Trust.

Government Whip, Department of Trade and Industry, 2005 – 2006

Government Whip with responsibility for UK legislation relating to business, trade, industry, innovation and science

Member of Parliament, June 2001 – May 2010

Member of Parliament for Gloucester. Led the regeneration of the £1 billion Gloucester Quays project. Founder member of the Gloucester Urban Regeneration Company. Oversaw the £32m rebuild of the Gloucester Royal Hospital, the new £24m police HQ at Waterwells, University status for the City with the £18m university campus and the successful bid for the largest grant in history for a FE College – the £32m Gloucestershire College in the Docks