Honours System
The Cabinet Secretary has made two new appointments to the Chairs of Independent Honours Committees. Sir John Parker is the new chair of the Economy Honours Committee and Lord Stevenson of Coddenham will chair the Arts and Media Committee.
Sir John Parker is chair of the National Grid plc and also chairs the Non-Executive Director's Committee of the Court of the Bank of England.
Lord Stevenson is chairman of HBOS plc and chair of the House of Lords Appointment Commission. He is also a Trustee of the Tate Foundation. He sits on the cross benches in the House of Lords.
These appointments follow the retirements after three years' service of Sir John Collins (Chair of Economy Committee) and Lord Rothschild (Chair of Arts and Media Committee).
The appointments were made in accordance with Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments procedures. The positions were advertised in the national press and on the Public Appointments Unit web site. Applications were in writing and were followed by interview.
The new appointees will be members of the Main Honours Committee which advises on the names to be included in the Prime Minister's list of recommendations for honours to The Queen. They examine nominations from the public, government departments and others across the range of national life. There are eight committees: Economy; Arts and Media; Community, Voluntary and Local Service; Education; Health; Science and Technology; Sport and State.