Tom Scholar named in New Year Honours – plus all the civil servants that made the 2023 list

Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft and Treasury second perm sec Cat Little named alongside former Treasury chief

Former Treasury perm sec Tom Scholar was named in the 2023 New Year Honours. Photo: Treasury

03 Jan 2023

Ousted Treasury permanent secretary Sir Tom Scholar and Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft have been named in this year’s New Year Honours.

Scholar – who was knighted in 2017 – was named Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, while Rycroft received a knighthood. Scholar’s appointment comes just three months after Kwasi Kwarteng removed him from his post less than two days into his short-lived stint as chancellor in September.

His sacking came ahead of Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-budget and prompted widespread disapproval. First civil service commissioner Sir David Normington hit out at the unceremonious dismissal of “one of the ablest civil servants of his generation”, which he said sent a “clear message” that ministers were “not interested in impartial advice and intend to surround themselves with 'yes' men and women”.

Cat Little, who stepped up as interim joint Treasury perm sec after Scholar’s departure, was also among the civil servants named in the 2023 New Year Honours. Little, who is now second perm sec in the department, was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her work as director general for public spending.

Crown Commercial Service and Cabinet Office race champion Simon Tse was meanwhile named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the public sector and to race equality. His work as race champion has included setting up a Cabinet Office race board to improve development opportunities, education on diversity issues, and the use of data.

Tse told CSW last year that he was “one of a very, very small handful of director generals that have come from an ethnic background” and that he wanted to help foster a “richness of diversity” in the Cabinet Office.

A wide range of civil service organisations and professions were represented in this year’s honours list, including HM Prison and Probation Service operations DG Philip Copple and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chief vet Christine Middlemas, both CBs; DWP prison work coach Lance Grundy and Nicholas Cady, deputy head of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Team, ceremonials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, both MBEs.

Professor Andrew Curran, chief scientific adviser at the Health and Safety Executive was named a CBE – for his three-decade-long career leading research into protecting health and safety at work, including the world’s largest study into Covid-19 transmission.

Professor Curran also led the largest study in the world to better understand the transmission of Covid-19, which helped support the UK’s response to the pandemic.

“I am absolutely delighted, honoured and extremely proud. I see it as recognition of the contribution HSE’s scientists, engineers and analysts make to providing a strong evidence base for our policy and regulatory activity,” Curran said.

He added: “I love my job because I genuinely learn something new every day. I believe I have one of the best jobs in science in the country. Our science really makes a difference. I can think of no greater motivator in what I do.”

Several officials were recognised for their work to respond to and rebuild from the Covid pandemic, including Tessa Griffiths, the former director of Covid response measures at the Department for Education and Elinor Mitchell, director of economy in the Scottish Government, who were named CBEs. Dr Liam Whitfield, deputy director of Covid-19 SAGE advice and evidence in the Government Office for Science, received an OBE for services to science and to resilience in government.

Here are all the civil servants named in the 2023 New Year Honours List:

Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)

Ian Booth, chief executive, Submarine Delivery Agency, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Dr Nina Cope, lately director general, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement and to diversity
Philip Copple, director general operations, HMPPS. For services to justice and to charity
Dominic Herrington, lately National Schools commissioner. For services to education
Catherine Little, lately director general, public spending, HM Treasury. For public service
Dr Christine Middlemas, chief veterinary officer, Defra. For services to the veterinary and farming sectors
Gaven Smith, director general, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Mark Sweeney, director general, Economic and Domestic Secretariat, Cabinet Office. For public service

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Janet Alexander, director, compliance operations, HMRC
Anthony Arter, lately pensions ombudsman. For services to the pension industry and to charity
Alexandra Auterson Jones, director, science, research and innovation, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy. For services to research and innovation
Dr Katherine Cane, deputy director, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Dean Creamer OBE, director, Commonwealth Games and Blythe House Programme, DCMS. For public service
Professor David Crossman, chief scientist (health) Scottish Government. For services to public health in Scotland
Professor Andrew Curran, chief scientific adviser and director of research, Health and Safety Executive. For public service
Graham Duncan, lately deputy director, Care and Reform Team, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. For services to local government
Jeffrey Garrett, head of global issues, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Tessa Griffiths, lately director, Covid response measures, Department for Education. For services to education and to the Covid-19 response
Suzanne Kantor, director, personal tax, welfare and pensions, HMRC. For public service
Andrea Ledward, director, international biodiversity and climate, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to the environment
Sarah Maclean, lately director, Covid response measures, Department for Education. For services to education and to the Covid-19 response
Elinor Mitchell, director of economy, Scottish Government. For public service during Covid-19
Veronica Povey, finance director, Ministry of Defence. For services to public finance and volunteering
Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes, UK Health Security Agency. For services to public health
Nagesh Reddy, portfolio director, labour market and Plan for Jobs, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, chief nurse for adult social care, Department for Health and Social Care. For services to social care
Simon Tse, chief executive, Crown Commercial Service. For services to the public sector and to race equality
Andrea Williams-Mckenzie, lately deputy director, HR operations, London Region, HMCTS. For public service

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Rashid Begum, lately acting deputy director, Home Office. For public service
Marcus Bell, director of equalities, Cabinet Office. For public service
Felicity Bennee, deputy director and co-chair, Welsh technical advisory group, Welsh Government. For public service
Stuart Bennett, refugee resettlement lead, Universal Credit complex needs, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Jo-Anne Daniels, director, Test, Trace and Protect Service, Wales. For services to public health and education in Wales
Jennet Davis MBE, lately senior adviser, Cop26 Unit, Cabinet Office. For public service
Daniel Drake, deputy director, sanctions taskforce, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Kelly Evans Lvo, head of casework and management advice team, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Christine Farrugia, chief of staff to commissioners, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. For public service
Neil Feinson, deputy director, trade in goods, Department for International Trade. For services to international trade and diversity
Dr Alexander Ferguson, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Matthew Field, lately HM ambassador Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. For services to British foreign policy
James Gilbert, lately deputy director, Scottish Government. For services to Housing
Hadley Gill, senior officer, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement and to diversity
Rachel Hick, deputy head, finance team, army headquarters, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Catherine Hinwood, lead for domestic abuse and sexual violence, NHS England and lately deputy director, victim and witness policy, policy and strategy group, Ministry of Justice. For public service
Paula Holland, deputy director, work and health decision making, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Saika Jabeen, assistant chief officer, Nottinghamshire Probation Service. For public service
Libby Jackson, head of space exploration, UK Space Agency. For services to the space sector
Professor Richard Jones, science fellow, applied international development, Met Office. For services to climate science
Colin Leat, portfolio manager, digital communications, Defence Equipment and Support, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Samuel Littlejohns, senior lawyer, Ministry of Defence legal advisers, Government Legal Department. For services to the law
Matthew Lownds, lately sanctions officer, Russia Unit, Eastern Europe and Central Asia directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Tansy Main, head of the chief medical officer's Taskforce on Rape and Sexual Assault Unit, Scottish Government. For services to victims in Scotland
Steven McCourt, head of reducing reoffending, resettlement and rehabilitation, Department of Justice, Northern Ireland Executive. For public service
Christopher McGarry, head of information services, Defence Electronics Components Agency. For public service
Elaine McGillivray, tax specialist, HMRC. For public service
John Middleton, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Thomas Murdoch, deputy director, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Robert O'Connor, deputy director, disability services, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Joanne Olitver, head of approved premises, HMPPS. For public service
Anthony Pedrotti, deputy director, central grants and loans team, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy. For services to business
Andrew Read, deputy director, people services, Crown Prosecution Service. For public service
Jane Read, clinical framework progression lead, directorate of security, HMPPS. For public service
Ilaria Regondi, acting HM trade commissioner to Europe and country director France, Department for International Trade, British Embassy Paris. For services to trade and investment in Europe
Neil Renton, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Karen Rhodes-German, head of payment strategy, HMRC. For public service
David Riley, lately deputy director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Andrea Street, deputy director, Welsh Government. For services to health and social care in Wales
Gareth Tame, expert meteorologist, Met Office. For services to forensic meteorology
Martin Thursfield, deputy director, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Elinor Wakefield, lately deputy Cop26 envoy, Cop26 Unit, Cabinet Office. For public service
Peter Walter, employment law adviser, human resources directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Fiona White, lately deputy director, train strategy and operations, Department for Transport. For public service
Dr Liam Whitfield, deputy director, Covid-19 SAGE advice and evidence, Government Office for Science. For services to science and to resilience in government
Alison Wilson, lately deputy director, vulnerable children unit, Department for Education. For public service
Robert Yardley, deputy director, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Marc Arnold, senior Research analyst, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Steven Baker, geospatial analyst, Defence Geographic Centre, Ministry of Defence. For public service
Dr Edward Barnett, deputy head of mission, British Embassy, Mogadishu, Somalia and lately head, humanitarian response group, humanitarian and migration directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to UK humanitarian response
Stephen Barry, senior executive manager, health protection, Welsh Government. For services to public health in Wales
Deshne Barzangi, team leader, Ministry of Defence
Claire Bell, flood and coastal risk manager, Environment Agency. For services to gender equality in the workplace
Sharon Bell, associate service manager, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Emma Brown, officer, National Crime Agency
Richard Burns, customer compliance group, customs and international trade, HMRC. For public service
Nicholas Cady, deputy head of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Team, ceremonials, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. For public service
Peter Candler, deputy head, Iran unit, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Ewa Cantrill, officer, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement
Jane Chelliah-Manning, policy lead, Marine Sector, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy. For public service
Dr Connell-Hall, senior investigator, service complaints ombudsman for the armed forces, Ministry of Defence. For services to diversity and inclusion
Stuart Connick, head, sanctions strategy and capability, sanctions directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy.
Martin Coombs, lately finance director, chief operating officer and senior responsible officer, technology sourcing programme, chief digital information officer group, HMRC. For public service
Jacqueline Daley, head, thematic policy and casework, consular assistance department, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British nationals overseas
Thomas Elphick, desk officer, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Conrad Gayle, diversity and inclusion manager, people function, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to law and order
Dr Imelda Giarchi, analyst, Scottish Government. For public service
Sarah Golding, disability employment adviser, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Lance Grundy, prison work coach, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Brian Grzymek, lately deputy director, Department of Justice, Northern Ireland Executive. For public and voluntary service in Northern Ireland
Edmund Hack, overseas security adviser, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to the security and safety of UK staff and their families overseas
Pouria Hadjibagheri, lately technical and development lead for the Coronavirus Dashboard, UK Health Security Agency. For services to data transparency during Covid-19
Jeremy Harris, desk officer, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Andrew Harrison, Storeman, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Andrew Hill, team leader, office for conflict, stabilisation and mediation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to international development
Susan Johnson, deputy chair, SPARTA, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. For services to health and wellbeing
Gillian Jones, lately HM inspector and deputy director of Schools and Early Years, Ofsted. For services to education
Ruth Kerry, Victim Liaison officer, Yorkshire and the Humber Public Protection Unit, Probation Service, HMPPS. For services to victims
Dr Joanne Lawson, head of procurement trade policy, Department for International Trade. For services to international trade and investment
Jemima Lipton, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
David Lockyer, legal adviser, Westminster Magistrates' Court, HM Courts and Tribunal Service. For public and voluntary service
Helen Esther McAleavy, private secretary to the chief medical officer, Department of Health and Social Care. For public service
Richard McAvoy, armed forces champion, Department for Work and Pensions. For public service
Syed Moinuddin, customs cooperation agreements lead, HMRC. For public service
Simon Mundy, lawyer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs legal advisers, Government Legal Department. For public and voluntary service
Nicola Percival, project delivery, borders and enforcement, Home Office. For public service
Anthony Rapson, lately head of the general aviation safety strategy study, Civil Aviation Authority. For services to general aviation and to aviation safety
Sheila Seewooruttun, desk officer, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Stuart Speding, strategist and project lead, Vaccine Taskforce, Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial strategy. For services to public health during Covid-19
Peter Sweeney, chief technology officer, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to technology in HM government
Anthony Tanner, team leader, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Steven Tennet, Border Force Higher officer, freight intensification team, Home Office. For public service
Dr Sian Thomas, chief data officer, Department for International Trade. For public service
Louise Vesely-Shore, lately officer, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement and to diversity
Dr Helen Boreland-Vinas, research analyst, Europe directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British foreign policy
Matthew Webb, officer, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement
Rachael Clare Whitaker, policy manager, offender health and secure services, Department of Health and Social Care. For services to mental health policy
Scott Wilde, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
Karen Williams, administrative officer, Welshpool Magistrates' Court, HMCTS. For services to the administration of justice and to charity
Margaret Wilson, chair, National Parent Forum. For services to education in Scotland