Petrie Bowen Wells (born 4 August 1935), known as Bowen Wells, is a retired British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hertford and Stevenage then Hertford and Stortford from 1979 until 2001. He was also Chair of the International Development Select Committee from 1997 until 2001.

Bowen Wells
Chair of the International Development Select Committee
In office
17 July 1997 – 18 July 2001
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byTony Baldry
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
In office
5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byTimothy Wood
Succeeded byJohn McFall
Member of Parliament
for Hertford and Stortford
Hertford and Stevenage (1979-1983)
In office
3 May 1979 – 14 May 2001
Preceded byShirley Williams
Succeeded byMark Prisk
Personal details
Born (1935-08-04) 4 August 1935 (age 89)
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative

Education

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Wells was educated at St Paul's School in London, the University of Exeter, and Regent Street Polytechnic.

Member of Parliament

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Wells was first elected in the 1979 general election as MP for Hertford and Stevenage, defeating Labour's Shirley Williams. After boundary changes in the 1983 general election, he served as MP for Hertford and Stortford until the 2001 general election when he retired.

From 1982 until 1983, Wells served in Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Government as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Minister of State for Employment Michael Alison. He then served twice in John Major's Government; as PPS to Minister of State for Public Transport Roger Freeman from 1992 until 1994, and as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury from 1995 until 1997.

Wells lost his position in government following the Labour victory in the 1997 general election. Soon after, he was made Chair of the newly formed International Development Select Committee. He remained in the post until his retirement in 2001.

Personal life

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Wells is married. He has two sons, Adam and Simon Bowen.[citation needed]

Sources

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stevenage
19791983
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford
19832001
Succeeded by