Robert was born in 1956. He was educated at Colston's School, Bristol and has a Road Haulage Managers (CPC) Certificate. He has two children, Imogen and Nicholas, and separated from Fiona in early 2006.

Robert is a former Managing Director of a Building and Plant Hire Group and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (F.C.I.O.B).

Robert was elected MP for Poole in 1997.

In December 1999 he was appointed as Frontbench Spokesman for environment, transport and the regions. In September 2001, he was appointed as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party. In March 2003, he was also appointed as an Opposition Whip. From November 2003 to July 2007, he served as a Shadow Minister for Local Government. He served from 2008 to 2010 as a member of the Health Select Committee.
 
Robert has been elected Chairman of the Regulatory Reform Select Committee in the current Parliament.  He is also a member of the Liaison Committee of the House.  He recently served on a joint Committee of the House of Lords and Commons chaired by Lord Armstrong, looking at the detention of terrorist suspects.  The Committee has made representations to the Home Secretary for changes in the law.

Robert is Chairman of the All-Party Group on the Private Rented Sector and is also an Officer of the All-Party Finnish Group and the All-Party Group for Micro-Credits.
 
Contact Robert

Email: symsr@pooleconservatives.org
Telephone: 01202 739922
Fax: 01202 739944
Postal Address: 38 Sandbanks Road, Poole, Dorset, BH14 8BX