The Rt. Hon. Jane KENNEDY

Jane Kennedy first became a Minister in 1999 where, as Parliamentary Secretary at the Lord Chancellor's Department, she was the first woman and first non-lawyer to be appointed to ministerial rank in the Department.

She took over as Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office in 2001 where she was responsible for Security, Policing and Prisons, Education, Employment and Learning.

Jane Kennedy Biography
Born: 4 May 1958
Education: Haughton and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form in Darlington before studying at Liverpool University.

The Jane Kennedy CV:
1979 to 1983 - Residential child care officer for Liverpool City Council
1983 to 1988 - Care assistant for the City Council's Social Service Department
1995 to 1997 - Opposition Whip
1997 to 1998 - Assistant Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (Government Whip), Member of the Administration Select Committee,
1999 to 2001 - Parliamentary Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department

June 2001 to April 2004 - Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office, responsible for Security, Policing and Prisons, Education, Employment and Learning.

April 2004 - Minister for Work at Department for Work and Pensions