Margaret Hodge MP, MBE
Minister of State for Children.

Margaret Hodge was appointed Minister of State for Children in June 2003, and received the new title of Minister for Children, Young People and Families in September 2003. Prior to this she was Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (from December 2002) and Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education (June 2001- December 2002).

The MP for Barking since 1994 was previously the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities at the Department for Education and Employment, a post she took up in July 1998.

Mrs Hodge was educated at Bromley High School and Oxford High School before obtaining a BSc at London School of Economics.

Mrs Hodge entered politics in 1973 as a councillor for the London Borough of Islington where she was Chair of the Housing Committee from 1975 to 1979 and Deputy Leader from 1981 to 1982 before becoming Leader from 1982 to 1992. She spent two years as a consultant for Price Waterhouse from 1992 to 1994.

Prior to her appointment to the DfEE she was Joint Chairman of the House of Commons Education and Employment Select Committee. Mrs Hodge is married with four children and one grandchild.