22 Aprill 2004
The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Alistair Graham as Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, in succession to Sir Nigel Wicks. The appointment is for three years with effect from Monday 26 April 2004.
The Prime Minister has also appointed Dr Elizabeth Vallance as a member of the Committee to succeed Sir Alistair who has served as a member since 1 October 2003.
The Prime Minister said:
"I am pleased to appoint Sir Alistair as the new Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. He is a distinguished individual with proven record in public service. I am sure that he will continue to play a vital role in overseeing the standards of all who work in public life."
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to Sir Nigel for his excellent leadership of the Committee, and for the significant contribution he has made to upholding and improving standards in public life.
Notes to editors
Sir Alistair Graham
Sir Alistair has served as a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life since 1 October 2003. He was Chair of the Police Complaints Authority until 1 April 2004 and will shortly be taking up the Chair of the British Transport Police Authority. He is also a Regional Commissioner for the NHS Appointments Commission, Vice-President of Opera North, non-executive director of the Information Commission, a Member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and a member of the Fitness to Practice Committee of the General Optical Council.
Sir Alistair was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel Development and the Institute of Training and Development. He has been a visiting Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford (1984-1992) and visiting Professor of the Management School, Imperial College, London University (1982-1991). He has an honorary Doctorate from the Open University. He was knighted in the Millennium Honours List for services to the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland.
Sir Alistair has had a long and varied career in public service. Between 1966 and 1986 he worked for the Civil and Public Services Association, as Assistant Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary. His next post was as Chief Executive of the Industrial Society (now renamed ‘The Work Foundation’) between 1986 and 1991, after which he became Chief Executive of Calderdale and Kirklees Training and Enterprise Council (1991 - 1996) then of the Leeds Training and Enterprise Council (1996 - 2000). During this latter period he also served as Chairman of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland (1997- 2000).
Dr Elizabeth Vallance
Dr Elizabeth Vallance began life as an academic teaching political philosophy at London University. She was head of the Department of Politics at Queen Mary College, as well as a Visiting Professor and is now a Fellow.
Dr Vallance is currently Chair of the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards and of the Council of the Institute of Education, University of London. She is also a non-executive Director for Aviva plc, the life insurance company.
Further Information
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office. It was established in October 1994 with the following terms of reference:
‘To examine current concerns about standards of conduct of all holders of public office, including arrangements relating to financial and commercial activities, and make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements which might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life.
The membership of the Committee with effect from Monday 26 April 2004 will be
Sir Alistair Graham (Chair)
Rita Donaghy OBE
Professor Hazel Genn CBE
Dame Patricia Hodgson DBE
Baroness Maddock
Rabbi Dame Julia Neuberger DBE
Rt Hon Gillian Shephard DL MP
Rt Hon Chris Smith MP
Dr Elizabeth Vallance
Dr Brian Woods-Scawen DL
The Chairman receives £380 per day for his work on the Committee and the members are paid £180 per day, provided they are not separately in receipt of a salary from public funds. The expenses of the Chair and members incurred in the course of their work for the Committee are met in full.
The appointment process for the new appointments was fully in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.
The Committee has published nine reports and launched its tenth inquiry on 15 January 2004 - ‘Getting the Balance Right: Implementing Standards of Conduct in Public Life’. This inquiry is examining the effectiveness of processes in place for maintaining high standards of conduct in public bodies, local government, and the national health service. The final report is expected to be published at the end of the year.
Additional information about the Committee and its work is available on its website at www.public-standards.gov.uk
delicious
digg
facebook
