Latest civil service & public affairs moves – February 5

UK Government

• Department for Business and Trade: Post Office – Henry Staunton stepped down as chair on 27 January. Low Pay Commission – Baroness Stroud appointed as chair; Nigel Cotgrove and Andrew Goodacre appointed as commissioners.
• Cabinet Office: Government Property Agency – Pat Richie re-appointed as chair until 2027.
• Department for Education: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel – Alison Steele and Ian Critchley appointed as members for four years from 30 January.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Joint Nature Conservation Committee – Charles Banner KC’s tenure as interim chair extended for six months until 30 June.
• Department of Health and Social Care: Care Quality Commission – Charmion Pears appointed as non-executive director and chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for three years from 1 February.
• Ministry of Justice: Office of the Public Guardian – Greg Early appointed as non-executive director.
• Northern Ireland Office – Jonny Byrne appointed as Independent Reviewer of the exercised powers under the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 and National Security Arrangements from 1 February.
• Department for Transport: Vehicle Certification Agency Board – Jon Beasley and Darren Messem appointed as Non-executive Directors.
• HM Treasury: Adjudicators Office – Richard Fowler appointed as head of office.

Non-Ministerial Departments

• Competition and Markets Authority – Will Hayter appointed as executive director for digital markets from 1 February; Chris Prevett appointed as permanent general counsel.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• A writ was moved for a by-election to take place to elect a new MP for Rochdale on 29 February.
• Public Accounts Committee – Marie Rimmer added; Dan Carden discharged.

House of Lords

• Baroness Swinburne appointed as government spokesperson for Wales, succeeding Lord Davies of Gower.
• Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee – Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway appointed as chair; Baroness Henig discharged.
• Restoration and Renewal Client Board – Lord McLoughlin, Lord Morse and Baroness Scott of Needham Market added; Lord German, Lord Hill of Oareford and Lord Vaux of Harrowden discharged.

Parties

Labour

• Kate Osamor has had the Labour whip suspended while an investigation takes place.

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee – Foysol Choudhury added; Colin Smyth discharged.

Scottish Government

• Environmental Standards Scotland – Dr Richard Dixon appointed as acting chair from 31 March.

Welsh Government

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – Dyfed Edwards appointed as chair.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Agricultural Wages Board – Grace Nesbitt appointed as chair for three years from 29 January; Gavin Laverty and Kevin McCabe appointed as independent board members for three years from 29 January.
• Invest Northern Ireland – John Healy appointed as chair to the board for three years from 1 March.
• Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust – Michele Larmour’s term as chair extended until 20 September 2026; Bernie McCrory’s term as board member extended until 20 September 2026.

Local Authorities

• Gateshead Council – Sheena Ramsey to stand down as chief executive in May.
• Glasgow City Council – Annemarie O'Donnell to retire as chief executive in May.
• South Kesteven District Council – Ashley Baxter appointed as council leader.

Industry

Interest Groups

Children with Cancer UK – Jo Elvin to step down as chief executive at the end of February.

Designability – Jim Bowes appointed as chief executive.

Licensed Trade Charity – Chris Welham appointed as chief executive.

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