Profile

Born in February 1947, Malcolm has been married to Penny since 1969 and has lived in Solihull since 1972. He has two grown up daughters, Louise and Katy, and two grandchildren.

Educated

Bedford School

Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in Engineering

University of Aston, Diploma in Management Studies

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• Chairman of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.
• Group Coordinator on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.
• Committee of Industry, Research and Energy (Substitute Member)
• Committee of Legal Affairs (Substitute Member)
• Founder Co-Chairman of the European Forum for the Automobile and Society
• Co-Chairman of the European Parliament’s Ceramics Industry Forum
• Chairman of the Conservative Technology Forum
• Vice President of the Parliament’s Science and Technology Unit (STOA)
• Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Delegation to Japan
• Governor, European Internet Foundation
• Winner of the FPB Business-Friendly MP/MEP 2006
• Honorary Doctor of Science at Aston University

Internal Market

As Conservative Internal Market Spokesman, Malcolm is continuing his crusade for more open and deregulated Markets.

Malcolm’s biggest achievement so far is the Services Directive, whereby over a 100 measures have opened up market opportunities and cut obstructive red tape, allowing companies and consumers across Europe to benefit from competition and choice within services. Such a role was rewarded with Malcolm being awarded the most ‘Business Friendly MP/MEP’ as chosen by the Forum of Private Business (FPB), as well as nominated as one of the top 50 Europeans of 2006 in the annual “European Voice” Awards.

He welcomed proposals that led to lower prices for mobile phone calls whilst maintaining the view that over intrusive rules would be bad for industry. He has also been appointed to oversee further proposals to give consumers new rights to enhance information before they sign up to new contracts, and make it easier to transfer personal numbers when switching to a new provider.

With pre-packed products, Malcolm introduced an amendment to a Directive on normal quantities that protected the status of the British loaf!

And by becoming a grandparent, Malcolm has become involved in an initiative to improve toy safety, particularly with toys that have been imported. Malcolm went on a mission to China with the Parliament’s Consumer Protection Committee, to quiz Chinese authorities about their monitoring of toy safety. Malcolm also visited Hornby about their design and safety procedures for Chinese made model trains.

Ceramic Industry

With special responsibility within the Conservative team for the Potteries, Malcolm Harbour is jointly leading the Ceramics Industry Forum in the European Parliament. Malcolm takes a special interest in the future of the industry and regularly visits ceramic producers in the region. As MEP, Malcolm has visited Johnsons International tile factory in Tunstall, a leading exponent in new technology, investing heavily in automated tile production.

Relations with Japan

As a member of the European Parliament’s delegation to Japan, Malcolm Harbour is using his previous experience as an Overseas Director for Rover to help European relations with Japanese parliamentarians.  He also takes a special interest in the role Japanese companies’ play in Europe, and in helping EU companies achieve success in Japan.

Malcolm was a keynote speaker at the Global Science and Technology Forum in Japan, attended by 600 leading scientists, science and technology ministers and decision makers in science policy. At a meeting with Japan’s Technology Minister, Malcolm said that Europe must step up it efforts to transfer more knowledge from universities into new products and services.

Business Liaison

With his role in the Internal Market, and being a Substitute member on the Committee of Industry, Research and Energy, Malcolm takes a very keen interest in business:

• Was appointed the Vice-President of the SME Union, a pan-European group that supports small/medium sized enterprises.
• Malcolm gave his full backing to the Heart of the England Fine Food and its excellent work in promoting regional produce.
• Campaigned for modifications to the European Patent law that would help hi-tech firms protect their inventions.
• After visiting the Frome Valley Vineyard, it enabled Malcolm to table an amendment that would exclude British winemakers from the EU wine regime, which would involve an automatic six year planting ban.
• Guest speaker at the West Midlands Business Council
• Visited a company called Network who recycle and resell domestic appliances to help the environment, provide employment and offer low income families access to affordable items.

Technology and Research

As team spokesman on technology and research, Malcolm makes weekly visits to regional enterprises and universities:

• Visited Staffordshire University Enterprise Centre where a company called Storm is developing an innovative device to reset broken leg-bones.
• Visited Aston University Science Park and toured their medical sciences centre. He was pleased to see European Research Funds being invested in a ground breaking project on Molecular Structure of Proteins. Very recently he was made Honorary Doctor of Science by the University.
• Malcolm attended the official opening of the Morgan Technical Ceramics facility in Rugby, a company that specialises in high tech ceramics for aerospace, medical and automotive industries.
• A guest speaker at the UK Research Office (UKRO) Annual Conference at Aston University.
• Regularly attends the Autosport International Show to meet West Midland companies who are active in motor racing and performance engineering.

Car Industry

Malcolm is co-chairman of the Forum for Automobile and Society (www.autoandsociety.com). This is an independent European think tank on the car’s role in society. It provides a valuable forum where the main automotive stakeholders and policy makers can meet.

So far this parliamentary term, Malcolm has been engaged in a number of key roles and policy issues, such as:

• Invited to be one of only two MEPs on a high level working group, chaired by Commissioner Gunter Verheugen, on the future of the EU car industry.
• Visited the LTI factory in Coventry where the London Cabs are built and how it is still playing a vital role in the city’s economy.
• Pressing the Commission for early action to agree a global standard for Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with a view to making it mandatory in Europe. Such a move could save 4,000 road traffic deaths.
• Continues his quest to make transport greener and environmentally friendly. His Committee has been dealing with common safety rules on hydrogen powered vehicles, and he participated in a Green Transport Forum held by leading engineering consultancy Arup in Solihull.
• Malcolm has also been working very closely with leading local car makers Jaguar Land Rove and Aston Martin to ensure that their special position as niche vehicle makers is reflected in forthcoming EU rules to encourage more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Car Industry

1967- 1969

Malcolm Harbour began his motor industry career in the BMC Longbridge Plant as an Austin Engineering Apprentice.

1969 - 1980

Worked as a design and development engineer, he spent eight years planning and managing new product programmes in the Rover Triumph Division.

1980 - 1989

He became Overseas Sales Director for Rover. His career has given him wide experience in all parts of the car industry, from shop floor to showroom. He has carried out business in many countries and has special knowledge of Europe and the Pacific Rim.

1989

He jointly founded the Motor Industry Consulting and Research Company: Harbour Wade Brown.

1992

Malcolm became a founder Director of the International Car Distribution Programme.

1998

Malcolm initiated a three year research study into the automotive companies and the UK Research Council. His companies have carried out business research and consultancy for all the major European, US and Japanese car dealers, suppliers, car makers and governments. In a 1997 survey by a leading car magazine, he was listed among the 200 most influential people in the world car industry.

Personal

• Active worker in the Conservative Party since 1972
• European Election candidate in the 1989 and 1994 campaigns, finally becoming an MEP in 1999
• Malcolm and Penny take an active part in their local community. They have both been Chairman of the school governing boards.
• Malcolm co-founded the Solihull Town Twinning Association in 1979.
• Outside politics, Malcolm enjoys choral singing, motor sport, cooking and tasting cheese!