About
The APPG was established in October 2008 in response to growing concerns over the heightened Food Crisis and a steady decline in the funding of Agricultural research for International Development at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Shortly after its establishment, the Secretary of State for International Development showed his support for our undertaking in a positive letter to our former chair Ian Gibson.
Following the 2010 General Election, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Stephen O'Brien, MP, echoed these sentiments in a letter to the Groups new co-chairs.
An Aide Memoire outlining the work of the APPG during its first twelve months can be viewed here.
View the Original Terms of Reference for the APPG.
Co-Chairs - Rt Hon. Tony Baldry, MP (Conservative) and Lord Cameron of Dillington (Crossbench).
Tony Baldry is an experienced Parliamentarian and held various ministerial posts from 1990 until the last General Election, serving as Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1995-97. Tony was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1994-95, with a range of responsibilities including Overseas Development in South Asia, Africa, North America and the West Indies. Between 1990 and 1994, he was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department of the Environment, responsible for all aspects of the Department’s work including environmental protection, construction, housing and planning. Tony takes a keen interest in foreign affairs, particularly Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and is a Governor of the Commonwealth Institute and on the Council of the Overseas Development Institute and Chatham House and a Trustee of Afghan Action. From 2001-2005 Tony acted as Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on International Development.
Lord Cameron of Dillington is a life-peer and cross-bench member of the House of Lords. He was educated at Harrow and later Oxford University where he studied modern History before becoming manager of Dillington Estate in Somerset in 1971, the country estate having been held by his Mother's family for some 250 years. Between 1995 and 1997 he was National President of the Country Land and Business Association and a member of the Government's Round Table for Sustainable Development from 1997 until 2000 when it was superseded by the Sustainable Development Commission. In addition to this Lord Cameron has held the position of Chair of the Countryside Agency (1999–2004) and was the UK Government's rural advocate for England from 2000 to 2004. Knighted in 2003, he joined the Hose of Lords a year later and is currently a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Agricultural Societies.
The Executive
Following Elections at the start of the Parliamentary Year, the following individuals have taken office for 2010/11:
- Vice-Chairs - Roger Williams MP (Liberal Democrats) and the Countess of Mar (Cross Bench).
- Details of the Group's full membership.
The Steering Committee
The APPG is fortunate enough to be able to call upon a diverse spectrum of highly respected academic institutions, trusts, foundations, NGOs, and private individuals in the support of its work.
The APPG is supported by contributions from within this stakeholder group. It receives no funding from individual Political Parties or the Government. Further details of how the APPG is funded can be found in the Offical Parliamentary Register of All Party Parliamentary Groups listed below.
The APPG's Entry in the Official Parliamentary Register can be found here. The rules governing APPG activities can be found here.