Nicholas Scott

The Right Honourable Nicholas Scott PC JP
Minister of State for Social Security (Minister for the Disabled)
In office 13 June 1987 – 20 July 1994 (post transferred from Dept. of Health & Social Security to Department of Social Security 25 July 1988)
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher John Major
Preceded by	John Major
Succeeded by	William Hague
Member of Parliament for Chelsea
In office 10 October 1974 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by	Marcus Worsley
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Paddington South
In office 31 March 1966 – 28 February 1974
Preceded by	Robert Allan
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1933-08-05)5 August 1933
Died
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth (divorced), Cecilia
Children	2 daughters (1 deceased) and 1 son - Victoria and Christopher, by his first wife, Elizabeth. 1 daughter and 1 son - Patrick and Amber, by his second wife, Cecilia.

Sir Nicholas Paul Scott PC JP (5 August 1933 – 6 January 2005) was a British Conservative Party politician.

Biography

Scott was educated at Clapham College and was national chairman of the Young Conservatives in 1963. He served as a councillor on Holborn Borough Council 1956–59 and 1962–65.

Scott contested Islington South West at the 1959 general election and at the 1964 election.

He entered the House of Commons on his third attempt, at the 1966 general election. He was returned as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Paddington South constituency, beating Labour's Conrad Russell. When his seat was abolished in boundary changes for the February 1974 election, he stood in the new Paddington seat, but lost to the outgoing Paddington North MP Arthur Latham.

However, Marcus Worsley, the MP for the safe Conservative seat of Chelsea, decided to retire. Scott was selected as the new Conservative candidate, and at the October 1974 general election, he was returned with over 60% of the vote. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1989. A moderate Conservative, during his time in the House of Commons, he served as minister for social security, disabled people, Northern Ireland and employment. His period as Minister for the Disabled saw him come under attack from many campaigners, including his own daughter, a disability campaigner, when on behalf of the Government he 'talked out' the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill, a Private member's bill which aimed to outlaw discrimination on grounds of disability. He was succeeded in this post by William Hague. He was subsequently knighted in 1995.

Scott remained MP for Chelsea until the seat was abolished at the 1997 general election. He was initially selected as the Conservative candidate for the new Kensington and Chelsea constituency, but was subsequently deselected after allegations of alcoholism surfaced following an incident in which he was found passed out in a gutter during the party conference in Bournemouth.

Styles of address

• 1933-1966: Mr Nicholas Paul Scott
• 1966-1974: Mr Nicholas Paul Scott MP
• 1974: Mr Nicholas Paul Scott
• 1974-1989: Mr Nicholas Paul Scott MP
• 1989-1995: The Right Honourable Nicholas Paul Scott MP
• 1995-1997: The Right Honourable Sir Nicholas Paul Scott Kt MP
• 1997-2005: The Right Honourable Sir Nicholas Paul Scott Kt

Sources

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1992 edition.
• Whitaker's Almanack, 2006 edition.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Nicholas Scott

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Robert Allan	Member of Parliament for Paddington South 1966 – February 1974	Constituency abolished
Preceded by Marcus Worsley	Member of Parliament for Chelsea October 1974 – 1997	Constituency abolished
Political offices
Preceded by John Major	Minister of State for Social Security (Minister for the Disabled) (post transferred from Dept. of Health & Social Security to Department of Social Security 25 July 1988) 1987-1994	Succeeded by William Hague