Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 30 June

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office – The Right Rev Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell appointed as bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, succeeding The Right Reverend Martin Alan Seeley following his retirement. The Rt Hon Lord Justice Colin Birss appointed as the chancellor of the High Court from 1 November, following the retirement of Sir Julian Flaux. Mrs Justice Cockerill, Mr Justice Dove, Mr Justice Foxton, Mrs Justice May, Mr Justice Miles and Mrs Justice Yip appointed as Lord and Lady justices of appeal.
• Cabinet Office: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman – Paula Sussex confirmed as parliamentary and health service ombudsman from 26 June
• Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – David Hill appointed as interim permanent secretary from 30 June. Hill has held several Director General roles at Defra since 2019. 
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Alicia Herbert appointed as British high commissioner to Jamaica from September, succeeding Judith Slater. Helen Fazey appointed as the United Kingdom ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta from August, succeeding Sarah Tiffin. Richard Lindsay appointed as the United Kingdom’s special envoy to Afghanistan.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Regulator of Social Housing – David Cassidy appointed as non-executive director for three years from 1 July; Chan Kataria appointed as non-executive director for three years from December
• Ministry of Justice: Parole Board – Sir David Calvert-Smith re-appointed as judicial member from 1 July until 30 June 2027
• HM Treasury: Crown Estate – Ric Lewis appointed as chair of the board from 9 July. Department for Work and Pensions Pensions Regulator Kirstin Baker appointed as interim chair from 1 August.

House of Commons

Committees

• Committee of Selection – Christian Wakeford added; Vicky Foxcroft discharged. House of Lords Viscount Waverley (Crossbench, hereditary peer) retired from the Lords on 23 June. Lord Redesdale was a Liberal Democrat peer, now is a non-affiliated peer.

Parties

Scottish Conservatives

• Alexander Stewart appointed as shadow cabinet secretary for social security, continues as shadow minister for local government and public finance. Liz Smith appointed as shadow minister (without portfolio), previously shadow cabinet secretary for social security. Pam Gosal continues as deputy party chair, no longer shadow minister for investment and employment. Stephen Kerr appointed as shadow minister for employment and investment.

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee – Jamie Halcro Johnston added; Alexander Stewart discharged
• Economy and Fair Work Committee – Stephen Kerr added; Jamie Halcro Johnston discharged
• Education, Children and Young People Committee – Paul McLennan added; Joe FitzPatrick discharged
• Public Audit Committee – Joe FitzPatrick added; Stuart McMillan discharged
• Social Justice and Social Security Committee – Alexander Stewart added; Liz Smith discharged.

Welsh Government

• Ministerial Advisory Group for Unpaid Carer – Kate Cubbage appointed as chair; Alyson Hoskins appointed as deputy chair
• Qualifications Wales Board – Paul Bevan announced as the preferred candidate for chair, subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Senedd on 3 July
• Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board – Owen Derbyshire appointed as chair for three years from 1 July.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Sinead Burns, Ellen Finlay, Gavin Gray, Libby Kinney, Charlene McGirr, Eugene Moore, Shauneen O’Neill, Laura Schwaderer and Paula Stuart appointed as Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) lay members
• UK Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners – Will Ennett, Scott King, Hilary McCartan and Derek McGlashan appointed as non-executive board members from 1 July.

Local Authorities

Councils

• Cotswold District Council – Jane Portman appointed as chief executive
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Paul Bellotti appointed as chief executive from November
• Warwickshire County Council – Rob Howard (Reform UK) resigned as council leader; George Finch (Reform UK) appointed as interim council leader.

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