Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 30 March

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office – The Very Reverend Simon Robinson appointed as bishop of Warrington, succeeding the Right Reverend Beverley Mason following her resignation.
• Department for Business and Trade – Amanda Brooks appointed as interim permanent secretary. She is director general for trade at the department. David Taylor appointed as trade envoy to Japan. David Reed appointed as His Majesty’s trade commissioner (HMTC) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and His Majesty’s consul general to Istanbul from 13 April. Fair Work Agency Advisory Board – Patricia Findlay, Gavin Kelly and Dora-Olivia Vicol appointed as independent members; Neil Carberry, Mustafa Faruqi and Joanne Young appointed as employer members; Mike Clancy (Prospect general secretary), Diana Holland and Dave Ward appointed as trade union members.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Creative Industries Council – Tim Davie appointed as co-chair from 1 August, succeeding Sir Peter Bazalgette. He will co-chair with Baroness Vadera until she stands down on 31 December. Sports Grounds Safety Authority Board – Martin Esom and Bradley Pritchard re-appointed as members for three years until 13 March 2029.
• Ministry of Defence – Polly Perkins announced as preferred candidate for armed forces commissioner, subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.
• Department for Education: Office for Students – Evelyn Asante-Mensah, Kirstin Baker, Sumita Hutchison, Julia Mundy and Richard Stables appointed as non-executive Board members from 1 May.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Agriculture and Horticulture Development – Elena Lokteva and James Standen appointed as board members for three years from 1 May.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Joseph Fisher appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Guyana, His Majesty’s non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Suriname and UK ambassador to CARICOM from April, succeeding Jane Miller who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Keith McMahon appointed as British high commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga from June, succeeding Philip Malone who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
• Department of Health and Social Care: NHS Litigation Authority (NHS Resolution) – Paul Smith appointed as non-executive director and chair of the audit and risk committee for three years from 23 March; Anu Ralhan re-appointed as non-executive director for three years.
• Home Office – Gareth Davies appointed as permanent secretary from 6 April. Sir Robert Buckland KC appointed to lead in independent review into the murder of Sir David Amess.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: National Housing Bank – Peter Vernon appointed as chair from 1 April; Simon Century appointed as chief executive from 1 April. Planning Inspectorate – Trudi Elliott's term extended by three months from 1 April until 30 June.
• Ministry of Justice: Government Legal Department – Attorney General’s Office director general Douglas Wilson appointed as GLD permanent secretary, Treasury solicitor and HM procurator general. He will succeed Susanna McGibbon on 13 April.
• Office of the Victims’ Commissioner – Susannah Hancock appointed as chief executive. Youth Justice Board – Karin Phillips appointed as member until 31 May.
• Department for Transport: Department for Transport Operator Board – Laura Shoaf and Tony Poulter appointed as non-executive directors.
• HM Treasury: UK Government Investments – Craig Coben appointed non-executive director for three years.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, was independent, now Restore Britain.

Committees

• Committee of Selection – Jerome Mayhew added; Paul Holmes discharged.

House of Lords

• Lord Harris of Peckham (Conservative) and Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour) granted a leave of absence on 26 March.
• Lord Dunlop (Conservative), Lord Trefgarne (Conservative, hereditary Peer) and Lord St John of Bletso (Crossbench, hereditary Peer) retired from the Lords on 27 March.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Dissolution: 9 April
• Election day: 7 May

Scottish Government

Education Scotland – Donna McMaster appointed as chief executive from April.

Welsh Parliament

• Dissolution: 8 April
• Election day: 7 May

Welsh Government

• Sports Wales – Dr Anna Bryant, Phil Newman and Parul Patel appointed as members to the board.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Armagh Observatory and Planetarium – Greg Cox’s term as governor extended until 31 August; Paul Kennedy and Eugene Rooney terms as members of the management committee extended until 31 August.

Local authorities

Councils

• Nottingham City Council – Sharon Kemp appointed as ministerial envoy.
• Slough Borough Council – Will Tuckley’s term as managing director commissioner extended until 30 November.

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