Peter has been a Worcestershire MP since 1992. He lives in the county with his wife, Julia. They have two grown-up children, Rosie and Oliver.
He worked for four years for the late Lord Walker when he was MP for Worcester. He then went on to be head of private office to the late Sir Edward Heath in the early 1980s and was Special Adviser to Lord Young at the DTI in the late 80s. After this he became a successful businessman in the communications industry. He has also been company secretary of his family's retail stationery firm. He was educated at Windsor Grammar School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he read Economics.
In 1997, Peter was appointed chairman of the Commons Agriculture Committee. In 2000, he joined the frontbench as an Opposition Whip. He served as Assistant Chief Whip from 2002 to 2005. Peter was appointed Chairman of the influential Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and its predecessors (the Trade & Industry and subsequently Business & Enterprise Committees) after the 2005 election and retained the post until the election in May 2010. In May 2010, Peter was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence with responsibility for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology.
Julia is Peter's secretary and can be contacted with just a local phone call. She also organises his regular advice surgeries in Evesham and Droitwich Spa.
Peter's interests - politics and family apart - are photography, theatre and steam railways. He supports Worcestershire County Cricket Club, the Worcester Warriors and Chelsea - but doesn't get to many games. He is a vice president of the Severn Valley Railway, Evesham Rowing Club, the Worcester Birmingham Canal Society and the Droitwich Canals Trust and is actively involved with many other local charities and organisations. He is patron of the county ME support group and has been chairman of the Worcester Cathedral Council.
He takes a close interest in many international issues and particularly in India.
His hero is Isambard Kingdom Brunel.