Latest civil service & public affairs moves – March 28

UK government

Cabinet Office

• UK Statistics Authority – Sir Robert Chote announced as the government's preferred candidate for the role of chair. Pre-appointment scrutiny by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will follow shortly.
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Ofcom – Lord Grade of Yarmouth announced as the government's preferred candidate for the role of chair. Pre-appointment scrutiny by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will follow shortly. Victoria and Albert Museum – Kavita Puri re-appointed as trustee for four years from 2 July to 1 July 2026.
• Department for Education: Office for Students – Dr Dayo Olukoshi and Rachel Houchen re-appointed as non-executive directors to the board from 16 March to 31 March 2025; Dr Michael Spence re-appointed as non-executive directors to the board from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025; Martin Coleman and Kate Lander re-appointed as non-executive directors to the board for three years from 1 July; Katja Hall re-appointed as non-executive director to the board for three years from 1 January 2023.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Iain Frew appointed as Her Majesty’s ambassador to Viet Nam from August, succeeding Gareth Ward. James Squire appointed as Her Majesty's ambassador to Switzerland and Her Majesty's non-resident ambassador to Liechtenstein from January 2023, succeeding Jane Owen.
• Department of Health and Social Care: Human Tissue Authority – Lynne Berry re-appointed as chair for three years from 18 November; Tom Chakraborti, Helen Dodds, Andy Greenfield and Dave Lewis appointed as members for three years from 1 April. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority – Dame Frances Ashcroft, Professor Frances Flinter, Dr Zeynep Gurtin, Dr Alex Kafetz, Alison McTavish and Geeta Narguund appointed as members for three years from 1 April; Rt Revd Graham James appointed as member for three years from 1 May.
• Home Office – Andrew Cooke QPM announced as the government's preferred candidate for the role of HM chief inspector of constabulary and chief fire and rescue inspector in England. Pre-appointment scrutiny by the Home Affairs Select Committee will follow shortly. Robin Simcox’s term as interim commissioner for countering extremism extended by three months.
• Northern Ireland Office: Independent Reporting Commission – Mitchell B Reiss appointed as UK commissioner from April until March 2025.

Houses of Parliament

All-Party Groups added to 23 March Register:

• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Moldova
• Zambia
• Bereavement Support
• Carers
• Community Energy
• Defence and Security Issues
• Food and Drink Supply Chain
• Global Deforestation
• Green Deal Misselling
• Housing and Planning
• National Trust
• New Towns
• Pedagogy, Curriculum and Accountability
• Religion in the Media

House of Lords

• Duke of Norfolk – was sitting as a non-affiliated peer, now sits as a crossbencher.

Devolved administrations

Welsh Government

• National Library of Wales – Ashok Ahir appointed as president; Andrew Evans appointed as vice-president.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Health and Social Care Pension Board – David Best’s term as independent chair extended from 1 April to 30 June.

Local authorities

• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – Council leader Roddie Mackay has confirmed he will not be standing for re-election as a Councillor in the local elections in May.
• East Staffordshire Borough Council – George Allen elected as council leader.
• Plymouth City Council – Nick Kelly no longer council leader following a vote of no confidence; Richard Bingley elected as the new council leader.
• Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council – Kim Bromley-Derry CBE appointed as managing director commissioner; Jim Taylor appointed as assistant commissioner.

Industry

If you and your organisation would like to be included in this section, then email us at editor@dodsgroup.com

Interest Groups

• Anthony Nolan – Andrew Devin appointed as chief digital and information officer.
• Children with Cancer UK – Jo Elvin appointed as chief executive.
• Sense – Vivienne Hoskins, Nathan Taylor, Ben Cooper and Mark Westwell appointed as trustees to its board