Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 12 May

UK Government

• Department for Business and Trade: Industrial Development Advisory Board – Catherine Colloms, Viral Mehta and Andy Simpson appointed as members for three years from 1 May until 30 April 2028
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: DCMS Departmental Board – Jude Kelly and Janet Pope appointed as non-executive board members for three years until 22 April 2028
• Ministry of Defence: MoD Police Committee and MoD Police Board – Alec Wood appointed as chair for three years
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – David Cairns appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Argentine Republic from September, succeeding Kirsty Hayes who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Kara Owen appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to Ireland from September, succeeding Paul Johnston. Bilal Zahid appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Slovak Republic from September, succeeding Nigel Baker who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Spelthorne Borough Council – Lesley Seary appointed as lead commissioner; Mervyn Greer, Deborah McLaughlin and Peter Robinson appointed as commissioners
• Ministry of Justice: Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors – Dr Hannah Bows, Suzanne McCarthy, Sean Harvey and Asrar Ul-Haq appointed as members for ten years from 1 July. Independent Restraint Review Panel – Colin Allars re-appointed as chair for three years from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028. Law Commission of England and Wales – Professor Solene Rowan appointed as law commissioner for commercial and common law from 8 September until 7 September 2030; Professor Lisa Webley appointed as law commissioner for property, family and trust law from 1 September until 31 August 2030. Privy Council Office – Baroness Chapman appointed as member of the Privy Council on 6th May.

Houses of Parliament

House of Lords

• Lord Maxton (Labour) retired from the Lords on 5 May
• Lord Etherton (Crossbench) died on 6 May.

Committees

• Industry and Regulators – Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway discharged.

Parties

Green Party

• Carla Denyer to stand down as co-leader at the upcoming internal leadership election.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Government

• Environmental Standards Scotland – Dr Richard Dixon appointed as chair of the board for four years until 31 March 2029; Marie Fallon and Dr Paul McAleavey re-appointed as members of the board for four years until 31 March 2029; Professor Annalisa Savaresi re-appointed as member of the board for three years until 31 March 2028
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board – Stuart Ballingall, Angiolina Foster and Paul Stollard re-appointed as members for four years from 24 July until 23 July 2029
• Scottish Futures Trust – Alistair Brown and Mark Dickson appointed as members of the board for four years from 1 May until 30 April 2029.

Welsh Parliament

• Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister – Peter Fox added.

Welsh Government

• Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities – Dr Simon Brooks to stand down as chair while receiving cancer treatment; Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones appointed as interim chair.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Sir John Gillen re-appointed as independent assessor of PSNI recruitment vetting from 1 May until 30 April 2029.

London Assembly

• Len Duvall elected as chair of the London Assembly on 6 May
• Andrew Boff elected as deputy chair of the London Assembly on 6 May.

Local Authorities

Councils

• Broxbourne Borough Council – Mark Mills-Bishop (Conservative) to stand down as council leader
• Camden Council – Jon Rowney recommended for appointment as chief executive from July, subject to approval by Full Council on 22 May
• Kent County Council – Linden Kemkaran (Reform UK) appointed as leader of the council.