Joan Walley MP honoured by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in Parliament.

CIEH Vice President Joan Walley, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, is Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee of the House of Commons but will be standing down from parliament at the next general election.

A passionate supporter of environmental health Ms Walley has been a CIEH vice president since first entering Westminster and has championed environmental health at all the key legislative moments of the last 27 years. These include the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Food Safety Act 1990 and the creation of the Food Standards Agency.

She will be awarded honorary membership of the organisation.

CIEH Chief Executive Graham Jukes, OBE, said: “Honorary membership of the CIEH is a unique and very special grade of membership only given to those who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others. Through her parliamentary work and in her support as a Vice President of the CIEH, Joan has provided such distinctive service and support that we felt it was a fitting tribute to publicly acknowledge the work she has done as she comes to the end of her parliamentary career.”

Joan Walley is a Labour Party politician, who has been the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North since 1987. She soon became shadow spokesperson for Environmental Protection and Development.

Joan has been one of the key MPs raising the public and political profile of such issues as climate change, sustainable transport, alternative energy, and responsible government procurement.

The 2004 winner of the Epolitix Environment Champion Award, Joan has long combined her environmental concerns with a commitment to her native North Staffordshire.