Bob Walter was born in 1948 and educated at the Warminster School and University of Aston in Birmingham (BSc 1971).
In January 2011 Bob was appointed by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, to head the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe . Bob was first appointed as an ordinary member of the assembly in 2002 and has previously chaired its committee dealing with media issues and freedom of the press. He also served for two years as senior vice chairman of its Economic Affairs and Development Committee.
Also in 2011, Bob was elected as Chair of the British Group of the Inter–Parliamentary Union (IPU). The IPU is a world-wide organisation of parliamentarians working for peace and co-operation among peoples and the firm establishment of representative institutions.
Since 1997 he has been a member of the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body, and now serves as chairman of its European Affairs Committee.
From 2008 until 2011, Bob was the elected President of the European Security and Defence Assembly/ Assembly of Western European Union, established under the modified Brussels Treaty. Before that he served as Chairman of the Assembly.
At Westminster Bob has served as a member of the Health Select Committee (1997 to 1999), International Development Committee (2001-1003) and the Treasury Committee (2003-2005). He was a member of the Conservative 1922 Committee from 2002 to 2005, and had previously served as Vice Chairman of the Backbench Agriculture Committee (1997-1999) and Secretary of the European Affairs Committee (1997-2001). From June 1999 to September 2001, he was Conservative Frontbench Spokesman for Constitutional Affairs and for Wales.
He is a leading member of several all party Parliamentary groups including Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Group and the Prison Health Group. Bob is Treasurer of the British Japan, British Caribbean and the Parliamentary Rugby Union groups. He is also Vice Commodore of the House of Commons Yacht Club.
In February 2000, he introduced the Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Bill, which failed to make progress. In 2004 he introduced the Restricted Byways Bill, the provisions of which have now been adopted by the Government. His latest Bill introduced in 2006, the House of Commons (Participation) Bill proposes to limit the consideration of English business in the House to English MPs.
Bob’s political career began as Chairman of the Aston University Conservative Association (1967-1969) and Chairman of Westbury Constituency Young Conservatives 1973 until 1976. He was Conservative candidate in the 1979 general election, contesting Neil Kinnock in the Welsh constituency of Bedwelty.
Before entering Parliament in 1997 Bob was an international banker and farmer. He is a former member of the London Stock Exchange and was a Director of Aubrey G Lanston & Co Inc.
Bob has served as Chairman of the Conservative Foreign Affairs Forum (1986-1988) and Chairman of the Conservative Group for Europe (1992-1995). He has been a member of the Conservative Party’s National Union Executive Committee (1992-1995) and has served as a member of the Carlton Club Political Committee.
He was Chairman of the Governors of Tachbrook School from 1980 to 1999. He is a Freeman of the City of London (1993) and the Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers (1983).
Contact Details
Email: robert.walter.mp@parliament.uk
Website: http://www.bobwaltermp.com
Telephone: 0207 219 6981
Fax: 0207 219 2608
