Albert Costain

{{Short description|British politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sir Albert Costain | office = Member of Parliament <br> for Folkestone and Hythe | term_start = 8 October 1959 | term_end = 13 May 1983 | predecessor = Harry Mackeson | successor = Michael Howard | birth_date = 5 July 1910 | birth_place = | death_date = 5 March 1987 (age 76) | party = Conservative Party }}

'''Sir Albert Costain''' (5 July 1910 – 5 March 1987) was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was member of parliament for Folkestone and Hythe<ref name="speech">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukpol.co.uk/albert-costain-1978-speech-on-the-loyal-address/ |title=Albert Costain – 1978 Speech on the Loyal Address |publisher=ukpol.co.uk |date=1 November 1978 |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> from 1959 to 1983,<ref name="pps"/> preceding future Conservative leader Michael Howard.<ref name="ims">{{cite web |url=https://imsvintagephotos.com/albertbpcostain1610625 |title=albert bp costain |publisher=imsvintagephotos.com |date=Feb 1982 |access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705154106/https://imsvintagephotos.com/albertbpcostain1610625 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early career== Costain was educated at King James's School, Knaresborough<ref name="ims"/> and the College of Estate Management.<ref name="ims"/> He became production director on the formation of Richard Costain Ltd in 1933 and was later chairman of the company.<ref name="costain">{{cite web|url=https://www.costain.com/news/news-releases/awards-for-costain-trainees/ |title=Awards For Costain Trainees |publisher=costain.com |date=2015 |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> The Sir Albert Costain Memorial Awards are awarded to trainee staff for successful achievement.<ref name="costain"/>

==As MP== During his parliamentary career he was parliamentary private secretary to the Minister of Public Building and Works from 1962 to 1964,<ref name="pps">{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-albert-costain/index.html|title=Sir Albert Costain July 5, 1910 to 1987|publisher=api.parliament.uk |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> to the Minister of Technology in 1970, to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1970 to 1972, and to the Secretary of State for the Environment from 1972 to 1974.

Costain was also a member of the Speaker's panel of chairman in the House of Commons. He was knighted in July 1980.<ref>{{cite journal |date= 15 September 1980|title= Second Supplement (Honours & Awards)|url= https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/48309/supplement/12987/data.pdf|access-date= 11 September 2019|journal= The London Gazette|publisher= Her Majesty's Stationery Office|publication-place= London|publication-date= 1980|issue= 48309}}</ref>

Costain stepped down at the 1983 election, and died in 1987.

==References== {{Reflist}} *''Times Guide to the House of Commons'', 1979 and 1983 editions

== External links == * {{Hansard-contribs | sir-albert-costain | Sir Albert Costain }}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{succession box | title = Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe | years = 1959–1983 | before = Harry Mackeson | after = Michael Howard }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Costain, Albert}} Category:1910 births Category:1987 deaths Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:UK MPs 1959–1964 Category:UK MPs 1964–1966 Category:UK MPs 1966–1970 Category:UK MPs 1970–1974 Category:UK MPs 1974 Category:UK MPs 1974–1979 Category:UK MPs 1979–1983 Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Alumni of University College of Estate Management