Brian Iddon

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Brian Iddon former Labour MP for Bolton South East.

Member of the All Party Internet Group. Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Scientific Committee. He is a former reader in organic chemistry at Salford University and is a great advocate of science education and formerly sat on the Commons science and technology select committee. MP Iddon is to step down at the next general election - 3 October 2006. He was first elected to parliament in 1997 and has an interest in Science and Technology. He has also been the leading MP campaigning for the legalisation of cannabis

From 1964 to 1966 Brian was on the staff at Durham University. Then, in 1966, he joined the staff of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry at the emerging University of Salford, where he rose through the ranks to become a Reader in Organic Chemistry. He is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Liverpool University. At monthly intervals for 29 years, Brian presented a popular lecture "The Magic of Chemistry" at venues throughout Britain and across Europe.

Digital Economy Bill

Not contacted.

Surgeries

10:30-11:30, Sat 6 Feb @ Farnworth Town Hall and 16:30-18:00, Fri 19 Feb @ Bolton Town Hall.

Identity cards

Member of the Science & Technology Committee, which delivered a report critical of the ID cards programme in August 2006

DNA database

House of Commons debates DNA Database Brian Iddon 7 November 2005

With an ever increasing number of people logged on the database, what consideration has my hon. Friend given to the advice of Professor Jeffreys, who discovered the DNA fingerprinting technique, that we should move from 10 to 16 markers in order to avoid wrongful convictions?

Early Day Motions

Signed Early Day Motion 845 Freedom of Information 06 Febuary 2007

That this House expresses concern that the proposed new fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act would allow authorities to refuse on cost grounds a high proportion of requests which they are currently required to answer; notes that the Government's consultation document recognises that this will have a greater impact on journalists, hon. Members, campaign groups and researchers than on private individuals; considers that such changes would undermine the Act's contribution to increased discussion of public affairs, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities; and calls on the Government not to proceed with the proposals.

Spam

Brian Iddon MP said many members had been receiving "unsolicited and highly offensive pornography" via the parliamentary network. 14 November 2002 House of Commons debate

Signed the Early Day Motion Spam E-Mails 16 November 2003

That this House commends the House of Commons Library Standard note on Unsolicited Electronic Mail (SN/SC/1280); notes that according to computer experts the amount of spam increased from 3.2 per cent. of total communication in 2002 to an astonishing 55 per cent. in March 2003 and that 90 per cent. of spam, most of which is pornographic in content, can be identified as emanating from 150 sources, 40 of which are located in Florida; believes that the electronic mail system is likely to collapse if the volume of spam is not reduced; commends the EU for introducing legislative measures that should stifle the operations of bulk commercial e-mailers by the end of this year by ensuring that only those opting in would receive spam messages; regrets that this legislation will not cover spam originating from the US and other off shore distribution points; expresses its concern at the Bush Administration's plans to offer only an opt out option for those wishing to block unsolicited mail; calls on the US Administration to adopt legislation based on the EU model; and calls on the Government to make urgent representations on behalf of its 20 million citizens now on-line.

Open Source Software

Spoke at the FLOSSIE conference. It was meeting Brian at last year's FLOSSIE conference which set in motion the APOSG project. As a former research chemist he is very much aware that openness is crucial to innovation in science. As a member of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee he has been at the centre of the equally important issue of open access to scientific publications.

Signed Early Day Motion 179 Software in Schools 21 November 2006

That this House congratulates the Open University and other schools, colleges and universities for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider community; and expresses concern that Becta and the Department for Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open source software and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies could bring to the schools market.

News

2007-07-12 - ZDNet - ID card scrutiny under threat
Author: David Meyer
Summary: Parliamentary scrutiny of ID cards and other technological and scientific issues could be seriously undermined by the new administration's reorganisation of governmental departments, according to members of a crucial committee. Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South East and a member of the House of Commons Science and Technology select committee, said on Thursday that proper oversight of scientific and technological issues could be threatened by the abolition of both the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Links

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