On 23rd July 2002, Iain Duncan Smith appointed Robert Shadow Minister for International Development. His responsibility will be to hold the Government to account for their budget of £3.4 billion this year, rising to £4.9 billion by 2005-6 and scrutinise their policies, their delivery and their effectiveness.

Rob will also work with Caroline Spelman MP (Meriden), Shadow Secretary of State, on the development of new policy for the Conservative Party.

Key policy issues include free trade, restrictive tariffs, debt relief, the contribution of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the scourge of AIDS, the delivery of health systems, infrastructure like roads, water, drainage and power supplies, education and security.

On his appointment Rob said, 'I am thrilled to have been offered this challenge. Early in my Parliamentary career I served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chris Patten when he was Minister for Overseas Development in Margaret Thatcher's Government. Fifteen years ago there was comparatively little interest in our responsibilities towards some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. There is now. That is why the Conservative Party is strengthening the Opposition Frontbench team in response to new priorities.'

Rob Key has served as a Minister in the Governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major, in the Departments of Environment, National Heritage (now Culture Media and Sport) and Transport. In Opposition he served under William Hague as Shadow Defence Minister, and under Iain Duncan Smith as Shadow Minister for Energy and Science, before moving to his present post