TUESDAY, APRIL 5. 1983
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SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE TO VISIT HONG KONG
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THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE, LORD COCKFIELD, WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM APRIL 10 TO 13.
HIS PROGRAMME WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER,
THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF LORD COCKFIELD.
LORD COCKFIELD, A CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, IS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND A MEMBER OF THE CABINET.
FRANCIS ARTHUR COCKFIELD WAS BORN IN 1916 AND EDUCATED AT DOVER COUNTY SCHOOL AND AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, WHERE HE GRADUATED IN BOTH LAW AND ECONOMICS. HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY THE INNER TEMPLE IN 1942.
HE ENTERED THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 1934 FIRST IN THE CUSTOMS AND IN 1938 HE JOINED THE INLAND REVENUE. HE WAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF INLAND REVENUE IN 1945, COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE FROM 1951 TO 1952, AND DIRECTOR OF STATISTICS AND INTELLIGENCE TO THE BOARD OF INLAND REVENUE FROM 1945 TO 1952.
HE LEFT THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 1952 TO BECOME FINANCE DIRECTOR OF BOOTS PURE DRUG COMPANY LTD AND SUBSEQUENTLY FROM 1961 TO 1967 HE WAS MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. FROM 1970 TO 1973 HE WAS ADVISER ON TAXATION POLICY TO THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE PRICE COMMISSION FROM 1973 TO 1977. HE WAS APPOINTED A MINISTER OF STATE AT THE TREASURY FOLLOWING THE RETURN TO OFFICE OF THE CONSERVATIVES AFTER THE ELECTION OF MAY 1979. HE BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE IN APRIL 1982, WHEN HE WAS MADE A PRIVY COUNSELLOR.
HE WAS A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SERVING FROM 1962 TO 1964. HE IS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE COURT OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM AND WAS PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY FROM 1968 TO 1969. HE WAS ELECTED AN HONORARY FELLOW OF THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS IN 1972.
LORD COCKFIELD WAS KNIGHTED IN 1973, AND WAS CREATED A LIFE PEER IN 1978.
HE IS MARRIED; HIS WIFE IS A CHOREOGRAPHER.
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