Last updated on 12 June 2013
Jeff Rooker
Chair
Jeff Rooker became Chair of the Food Standards Agency in July 2009.
He was Member of Parliament for the Birmingham Perry Barr constituency for 27 years from 1974 to 2001. He was Minister for Food Safety at the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries (MAFF) between 1997 and 1999, during which time he steered through Parliament the Food Standards Bill, which established the Food Standards Agency. He was made a peer in 2001. He became Minister for Food and Farming at the Department for Food and Rural Affairs in 2006, a position he held until he chose to leave the Government in October 2008.
Jeff has also held a number of other prominent Government roles, including Northern Ireland Minister (with responsibility for Finance, Environment, Farming and Equality); Minister for Housing, Planning and Regeneration, Home Office Minister (with responsibility for Immigration and Asylum); and Minister for Pensions.
With more than 35 years in public life, Jeff has wide experience of working with stakeholders, the media and the public on a variety of issues. He has also been a member of a number of Cabinet and Select Committees including the Public Accounts Committee, on which he served for two years.
Paid employment, office or profession
None
Directorships, whether paid or not
None
Any business, professional or public activities or interests that provides a regular source of income, recognition or some other benefit
None
Membership of public bodies, trusteeship of a charity or other public or private trust, or membership, role or affiliation to clubs or organisations
Trustee, National Benevolent Fund for the Aged
Chair of the British Motor Sports Training Trust from 09.11.2011
Chair of Castle Vale Partnership Board (a community regeneration project), Birmingham from May 2013.
Any shareholdings other than those held by a unit trust or similar arrangements where the Board member has no influence on the management of the shares
None
