The Rt Hon Sir Oliver Heald KC MP

Biography

Sir Oliver Heald was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice on 16 July 2016. He was elected the Conservative MP for North East Hertfordshire in 1992.

Education

Oliver studied law at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Political career

Serving as MP for North East Hertfordshire since 1992, Oliver has held a number of front bench positions and select committee roles.

He served as a minister in the Department of Social Security from 1995 to 1997, where he dealt with pension issues and introduced legislation to provide greater powers to benefit fraud investigators. His briefs in opposition included Home Affairs, Health, Work and Pensions, Constitutional Affairs and Shadow Leader of the House.

Between 2007 and his appointment as Solicitor General, he has been a member of committees including Work and Pensions, the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee.

From 2008 to 2012, he was also a member of the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe. Oliver served as Solicitor General (Attorney General’s Office) from September 2012 until July 2014.

Career outside politics

Oliver has practised as a barrister since he was called to the bar in 1977.

Personal life

Oliver is married with 3 children.

Previous roles in government