Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 21

UK government

• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Sir Patrick Vallance (chief scientific adviser and national technology officer) to lead work to consider how the UK can better regulate emerging technologies, enabling their rapid and safe introduction. 
• Ministry of Defence – Vice Admiral Keith Blount appointed as NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), he will take up the appointment in the rank of Admiral in July 2023, succeeding General Sir Tim Radford. 
• Department for Education – Sir Michael Barber appointed as an Adviser on Skills Reform. 
• Department of Health and Social Care: Review of Integrated Care Boards – Patricia Hewitt to lead an independent review into oversight of Integrated Care Boards in England and how they can best work with autonomy and accountability. 
• Department for International Trade – Richard Graham MP re-appointed as Trade Envoy to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 
• Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Regulator of Social Housing – Fiona MacGregor will continue as Chief Executive; she had previously announced that she planned to stand down due to family circumstances. Jonathan Walters, Deputy Chief Executive, assumed some additional responsibilities to support MacGregor, and these will continue into the New Year. 

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons 

• Stretford and Urmston – A by-election will take place to elect a new MP on 15 December. The statement of persons nominated will be released on 22 November. 

Committee chairs: 

• Education Committee – Robin Walker elected as chair on 16 November. 
• Transport Committee – Iain Stewart elected as chair on 16 November. 
• Both chairs also join the Liaison Committee. 

Committee members: 

• Public Accounts Committee – James Cartlidge and Flick Drummond added; Felicity Buchan discharged. 
• Women and Equalities Committee – Rachel Maclean added; Victoria Atkins discharged. 

House of Lords 

• Baroness Benjamin appointed to the Order of Merit. 
• Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) and Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party) raised to the peerage on 16 November. Lord Jackson’s introduction will take place on 8 December and Lord Weir’s on 1 December. 
• Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (crossbench) and Baroness Lampard (Conservative) raised to the peerage on 17 November. Lord Hendy’s introduction will take place on 12 December and Baroness Lampard’s on 5 December. 

Political parties

Conservatives 

• Emily Carter-Kandola selected as candidate for the Stretford and Urmston by-election. 

Labour 

• Andrew Western selected as candidate for the Stretford and Urmston by-election. 

Devolved administrations

Welsh Parliament 

• Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee – Peredur Owen Griffiths added. 
• Llywydd’s Committee – Llyr Gruffydd added. 
• Petitions Committee – Rhys ab Owen added. 
• Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee – Mabon ap Gwynfor added. 

Northern Ireland Executive 

• Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service – Jim Lennon appointed as Non-Executive Lay Member and Paul Kennedy as Non-Executive Finance Member until 13 November 2026.    

Local authorities

Interested in an updated contact list of Local Government leaders? Get in contact with your Dods Account Manager or Customer Services for more details. 

• Isle of Wight Council – Wendy Perera appointed as Chief Executive; she has been Interim Chief Executive since April. 

Industry  

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Interest groups 

• Henry Smith Charity – Anand Shukla appointed as Chief Executive; has been Interim Head since May. 
• St Mungo’s – Emma Haddad appointed as Chief Executive.