Janet Anderson, the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting, holds an important position in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She had her schooling in Bristol, at Kingsfield Comprehensive, went on to study at the Polytechnic of Central London and completed her formal education at the University of Nantes in France.

Her interest in politics began early and she embarked on her political career when she became PA to Barbara Castle when she was only 25. Before then she had worked at The Scotsman and Sunday Times newspapers, a not unfitting start for a future Minister in the Department in charge of Media. Further experience as Campaigns Officer for the Parliamentary Labour Party and Co-ordinator of the Labour Party's "Industry 2000" campaign for Gordon Brown confirmed her decision to aim for a parliamentary career on her own account and in 1987 she unsuccessfully contested the constituency of Rossendale and Darwen. In 1992 she stood again at the General Election and won the seat for labour with a handsome majority, becoming also the constituency's first woman MP.

Apart from her direct ministerial responsibilities she has served as a Parliamentary Labour Party Representative and was a member of the House of Commons Commission from 1993-94. From 1995-96 she acted as Opposition Whip and from 1996-97 Shadow Minister for Women. In 1997 she became Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) and in 1998 took up her present Ministerial post in the Ministry of Culture with special responsibility for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting. Her special interests are wide, ranging from Industry, Women's Issues, Health, Employment Protection and Rights to Constitutional and Home Affairs.