Educated
Secondary modern, Treharris,
Grammar Technical, Quakers Yard, Edwardsville,
Comprehensive, Afon Taf

Further Education
Certificate in Education - St Peter’s College, Birmingham. 
Part-time, (self financed) MA Industrial Relations, University of Warwick.

Marital Details
Married Julia Watts 1986 (separated)

Profession Prior to Election
Trade Union Official (MSF) now Amicus MSF

Armed Forces
A member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme attached to the Army – 2001 to 2002
Defence Select Committee 2003 -

Trades Union
AMICUS

Career
Trade Union Studies tutor 1971-75
Self Employed Trade Union Researcher 1975-79,
Trade Union Education Tutor 1975-82,
Trade Union Official 1982 - 2001, lastly Wales Secretary MSF now Amicus MSF

Other Organisations
Merthyr Tydfil Credit Union
BHS
RSPB
NFAS
Bevan Foundation member

Publications
Contributor to academic publications on trade union and economic development

Recreations
Hill walking,
Horse Riding,
Field Archery
Commons and Lords Rugby Club,
Bird Watching

Clubs
Aberfan Social and Democratic
Commons & Lords Rugby Club

Electoral Notes
Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney since June 7th 2001 – Majority 14,923

Select Committees
Deregulation and Regulatory Reform Committee 2001-
European Standing Committee C 2001 –
Defence Select Committee 2003 -

Labour Party Groups
Amicus MSF Branch Delegate to CLP
Co-operative Party Member
Wales Labour Party Joint Policy Committee 2001- 2004

Special Interests
Defence,
Industrial Relations and Working Conditions,
Education - Lifelong learning,
Health - Cancer and Blood

Dai Havard was elected MP for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney in June 2001. He is the first MP to represent the constituency to be born and brought up in the constituency.

Born in 1950 to Eileen (former shop worker and family carer) and Edward (Ted) Havard, a miner and surface worker at Deep Navigation Colliery in Treharris,

Dai attended the then Woodlands School, Quakers Yard, now Ysgol Rhyd-y-Grug, the then Treharris Secondary Modern, and Quakers Yard Grammar/Tech Schools and Afon Taf Comprehensive.

Dai became an active member of the then Treharris Boy’s Club, sited within the Deep Navigation colliery grounds, where his father (Ted) worked in the Lamp Room, until his early retirement on ill-health.

Dai gained a Certificate in Education from St Peter’s College, Birmingham and later a Master of Arts Degree in Industrial Relations, from the University of Warwick. He established a Trade Union Research Unit in East Birmingham and worked in Trade Union Education, including an academic year seconded to the TUC Education Service. Dai then worked as a full time official for several trade unions operating in both the public and private sectors.

Immediately before being elected as MP for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney in 2001, Dai was the Wales Secretary of the trade union MSF – now part of Amicus.

Since entering Parliament Dai has been a member of the Regulatory Reform Committee – which changes primary legislation – and since November ’03, a member of the Defence Select Committee. During 2001- 2002, Dai was a member of Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme - attached to the Army and continued as a ‘Post Graduate’ with the scheme and the Army in 2004.

Dai is also a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Treasury, Foreign & Commonwealth and Defence groups.

A member of the Co-operative Party, Aberfan Social and Democratic Club, Merthyr Tydfil Credit Union, the British Horse Society – Dai has been a very part-time civilian rider in London for Troop 1 Blues & Royals Household Cavalry, when time allows. He is also a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, National Field Archery Society and the Bevan Foundation. Dai has also accepted honorary positions with the Merthyr Angling Association and the Dowlais Chrysanthemum Society, is a Patron of both Merthyr and Treharris Mini and Junior Rugby clubs and is a supporter of the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, which is based in Merthyr.

Hill walking, Horse Riding, Field Archery and Bird Watching make up most of Dai’s recreational interests along with active membership of the Commons and Lords Rugby Club. – 3rd Team Captain! A - self financing - Veteran’s team, the C&LRC, plays occasional games against other International Parliamentary and guest teams, - including an ‘All Stars’ Welsh Internationals and Old Boys squads – often raising money for charities and cementing and developing contacts between Parliaments across continents including a Parliamentary World Cup every four years.  

Dai has been active in Parliament on the issues of Health, campaigning particularly for better care for cancer patients and the supply, safety and use of Blood. Dai has also established an All Party Group (Secretary) for Mountain Rescue and Search Teams. He is a member of the Trade Union Group of MP’s as well as the Amicus Group.