David Amess lives in Southend with his wife Julia and their five children. He has been a member of parliament since 1983 and has represented the constituency of Southend West since 1997. He has been extremely active as an MP, sponsoring bills such as the Pet Animals Bill in 1990, the Abortion (Amendment) Bill in 1996-7 and the Warm Homes Bill which passed in to law in December of 2000.

David Amess' favourite charities include the Fairhaven and St. Luke's Hospices and the Salvation Army. He enjoys reading, writing, sports and gardening.

Personal Details

Parents:
Son of late James Amess and of Maud Amess.

Date of Birth:
March 26, 1952.

Educated:
St. Bonaventure's Grammar School.

Further Education:
Bournemouth College of Technology (BSc economics 1974).

Marital Details:
Married 1983, Julia Arnold (1 son, 4 daughters).

Career:
Junior school teacher, 1970-71.
Underwriter, Leslie Godwin Agency, 1974-76.
Accountancy personnel, 1976-79.
Senior consultant, Executemps company agency, 1979-81.
Chair, Accountancy Solutions, 1987-90.
Chair, Accountancy Group, 1990-96.

Other Organisations:
Founder member, Wallenberg Appeal Foundation.
President, 1912 Club, 1996-
Member Executive, 1922 Executive Committee, 2004-

Sports Clubs:
Kingswood Squash and Racketball.

Publications:
The Basildon Experience, 1995.

Languages Spoken:
French (poor).

Recreations:
Socialising, reading, writing, sports, modern music, keeping animals, gardening.

Clubs:
Carlton, St. Stephen's Constitutional.

Freedom of City of:
Freeman, City of London.

Favourite Charity Supported:
Fairhaven Hospices, Salvation Army.

House of Commons:

PPS to Parliamentary Undersecretaries, DHSS:
Edwina Curry, 1987-88.
Lord Skelmersdale: 1988.

To Michael Portillo:
as Minister of State, Department of Transport, 1988-90.
at Department of Environment, 1990-92.
as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 1992-94.
as Secretary of State for Employment, 1994-95.
for Defence, 1995-97.

Sponsored:
Hoses and Ponies Bill 1984-85.
Members of Parliament (Minimum Age) Bill 1984-85.
Horses, Ponies and Donkeys Bill 1987-88.
Abortion (Rights of Conscience) (Amendment) Bill 1988-89.
British Nationality (Hon. Citizenship) Bill 1988-89.
Adoption (Amendment) Bill 1989-90.
Dogs Bill 1989-90.
Pet Animals (Amendment) Bill 1990-91.
Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988.
Human Fertilisation (Choice) Bill 1992-93.
Voluntary Personal Security Cards Bill 1992-93.
Football Matches (Violent and Disorderly Content) Bill 1992-93.
Newly Disqualified Drivers Bill 1993-94.
Coercion in Family Planning (Prohibition) Bill 1994-95.
Freezing of Human Embryos Bill 1995-96.
Abortion (Amendment) Bill 1996-97.
Reform of Quarantine Regulation Bill 1997-98.
Voluntary Personal Security Cards Bill 1997-98.
Warm Homes Bill 2000.

Councils and Public Bodies:
Redbridge Council:
Councillor, 1982-86.
Vice-Chair, Housing Committee, 1982-85.

Select Committees, Etc:
(Current) Member, Health, 1998-
(Former) Member, Broadcasting, 1994-97.

Backbench Committees:
Chair, Conservative Party Committee for Health, 1999-

Party Groups:
Hon. Secretary, Conservative Friends of Israel, 1998-

Special Interests:
Health, Education, Transport, Environment, Pro-Life Movement.

Countries of Interest:
USA, European Union, Middle East, Far East, Pacific Basin.

Electoral Notes:
Contested Newham North West in 1979 general election. Member for Basildon 1983-79, and for Southend West since May 1 1997.

Registered Interests:
Member, Political opinion Panel, Business Planning and Research International.

Current Posts:

Chairman,

Chairman of “Inflammatory Arthritis Group” , Chairman of “All Party Parliamentary FRAME Group” , and Joint-Chairman of “All Party Hepatology Group”

Vice-Chairman,

All Party Hungary Group, All Party Girlguiding UK Group, All Party Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Group, Association of Conservative Clubs.

Joint-Chairman,

All Party Fire-Safety Group.

Secretary,

All Party Eye Health and Visual Impairment Group, Conservative Friends of Israel (Hon. Sec).

Vice-President,

National Lotteries Group.

Patron,

Conservative Animal Welfare Group.

Member (unspecified),

All Party Heart Disease Group, All Party Pharmacy Group, All Party Funerals and Bereavement Group, All Party Cable, Satellite and Digital Group, All Party Obesity Group, All Party Cider Group, House of Commons Health Select Committee, Chairman's Panel, All Party Lighting Group.