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Governance

Find out how the honours system operates, from the independent committees to the role that the Prime Minister plays.

On this page:

Independent Committees
Main Committee
Arts and Media
Community and Voluntary Services Committee
The Economy
Education
Health
Parliamentary and Political Service
Public Service
Science and Technology
Sport
State
Diversity and Outreach Committee
Role of the Prime Minister
Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee)
Advisory Military Sub-Committee

Independent Committees

Honours are recommended by panels of independent experts. There are ten honours committees, and they are made up of independent people who are foremost in their respective fields.

Each honours committee has an independent chairperson and has a majority of members who are also independent. These independent committee members are appointed following an open and fair appointments process and although it is very similar to the public appointments process, they are not public appointees.

Senior civil servants also attend honours committees and are referred to as official members. A representative from 10 Downing Street is also invited to attend all committee meetings.

Twice a year, the honours committees meet to review nominations for people involved in specific activities and then send their recommendations to the Main Honours Committee. This Committee is made up of the chairpeople of all ten honours committees as well as an official chairperson who is appointed by the Cabinet Secretary.

The Main Honours Committee agrees on a final list of recommendations which goes to the Prime Minister and then to The King, who awards the honour.

Main Committee

Members

  • Dame Sarah Healey DCB CVO
  • The Cabinet Secretary – delegated attendance to Dame Antonia Romeo DCB
  • Chair of Arts and Media Committee: John Booth
  • Chair of Community and Voluntary Services Committee: The Rt Hon Nick Hurd
  • Chair of Economy Committee: Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia DBE CVO FRSE
  • Chair of Education Committee: Sir Hamid Patel CBE
  • Chair of Health and Social Care Committee: Dame Jane Dacre DBE
  • Chair of Parliamentary and Political Service Committee: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Winterton of Doncaster DBE
  • Chair of Public Service Committee: Harris Bokhari OBE
  • Chair of Science, Technology and Research Committee: Stephen Kelly
  • Chair of Sport Committee: Sir Ron Kalifa OBE
  • Chair of State Committee: The Rt Hon Dame Anne Rafferty DBE
  • The Permanent Under Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  • The Chief of the Defence Staff

Arts and Media

Independent chair

John Booth – Chair, National Gallery and Prince’s Trust (Independent Chair)

Independent members:

  • YolanDa Brown OBE DL – Saxophonist, Broadcaster and Chair of BPI
  • Ben Evans CBE – Director of the London Design Festival and Executive Director of London Design Biennale
  • Sir Richard Mantle OBE DL – Cultural administrator, Chair of The Grange Festival, Chair of In Peace or War and former General Director of Opera North
  • George Saumarez Smith – Director of ADAM Architecture
  • Samir Shah CBE – Chair, BBC
  • Dr Jo Twist OBE – CEO, BPI
  • Lisa Opie – Managing Director, Ubisoft Reflections; Chair, ScreenSkills; Chair, Together TV
  • Kate Mosse CBE FRSL – Author, Arts Campaigner and Founder, Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction

Official members:

  • Susannah Storey – Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
  • Joe Griffin – Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government

Community and Voluntary Services Committee

Independent chair

The Rt Hon Nick Hurd

Independent members:

  • Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski – Emeritus Rabbi, Golders Green Synagogue; Chief Strategist and Rabbinic Head, University Jewish Chaplaincy
  • Carly Jones MBE – Autism Advocate
  • Adeeba Malik CBE – Deputy Chief Executive, QED UK
  • Daryl Brown MBE DL – Chief Executive, Magpas Air Ambulance
  • Melanie Bryan OBE DL – Founder, WhyNotChange
  • Dr Wakkas Khan MBE DL – Founder, Young Interfaith; Member, Lancashire Cricket Foundation Inclusion Advisory Board; Former Chair, Prince’s Trust Mosaic North West; Former Trustee, Oxfam GB
  • Eddie Lynch MBE – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group Chair, Abri; Board Member, London Travelwatch; Misconduct Hearings Independent Panel Member, Thames Valley Police
  • Ruth Shaw OBE – Independent Consultant, Affleck & Co
  • Michelle Mitchell OBE – Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK
  • Jane MacLeod LL – Solicitor; Chair, Developing Young Workforce Argyll; Secretary and Treasurer, Mid Argyll Chamber of Commerce
  • Dr Stefan Fafinski DL – Trustee, Public Appointee and Deputy Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire

Official members:

  • Susannah Storey – Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
  • Will Garton – Director General, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Dr Andrew Goodall CBE – Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

The Economy

Independent chair

Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia DBE CVO FRSE – Chair, Snoop

Independent members:

  • Dame Vivian Hunt DBE – Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
  • Dr Gerard Lyons – Chief Economic Strategist, Netwealth
  • Peter Harrison, Chair Morgan Sindall plc, NED at Lazard Inc and Chair Business in the Community
  • Dame Julia Hoggett DBE – CEO, London Stock Exchange
  • Steven Cooper CBE – CEO, Aldermore Group; Chair, Experian UK

Official members:

  • Gareth Davies CB – Permanent Secretary, Department for Business and Trade
  • Jeremy Pocklington CB – Permanent Secretary, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • Joe Griffin – Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government
  • James Bowler CB – Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury

Education

Independent chair

Sir Hamid Patel CBE – Chief Executive, Star Academies

Independent members:

  • Dame Sally Coates DBE – Director of Secondary Education, United Learning
  • Dame Sally Dicketts DBE – President, Association of Colleges
  • Sir Martyn Oliver, HM Chief Inspector of Education
  • Dame Nicola Dandridge DBE
  • Dame Janet Beer DBE
  • Clive Lawrence OBE – Chief Education Officer at Esteem Multi-Academy Trust

Official member:

  • Jayne Brady MBE – Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service
  • Susan Acland-Hood – Permanent Secretary, Department for Education

Health and Social Care

Independent chair

Professor Dame Jane Dacre DBE – Professor of Medical Education, University College London and President, Medical Protection Society

Independent members:

  • Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE – lately National Guardian for the NHS
  • Dame Til Wykes DBE – Professor of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, King’s College London
  • Dame Ruth Beverley DBE – Lately Chief Nursing Officer for England
  • Dame Laura Lee DBE – Chief Executive, Maggie’s
  • Sir David Pearson – Lately President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
  • Wol Kolade – Managing Partner of Livingbridge, lately Deputy Chair of NHS England and lately Chair of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation

Official members:

  • Professor Sir Chris Whitty KCB – Chief Medical Officer (England)
  • Samantha Jones OBE – Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Judith Paget CBE – Director General, Department for Health, Social Services and Children, Welsh Government

Parliamentary and Political Service

Independent chair

The Rt Hon. the Baroness Winterton of Doncaster DBE

Independent members:

  • Lord McNicol of West Kilbride
  • The Lord Oates
  • Professor Stephanie Rickard – Professor of Political Science, London School of Economics
  • Craig Stephenson OBE – Trustee, Public Appointee and formerly Director at Welsh Parliament.

Official members:

  • The Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP – Government Chief Whip
  • Dame Rebecca Harris MP – Opposition Chief Whip
  • Wendy Chamberlain – Liberal Democrat Chief Whip

Public Service

Independent chair

Harris Bokhari OBE

Independent members:

  • Tariq Shah OBE – CEO, Vigo Group
  • Sir David Thompson QPM DL – Former Chief Constable, West Midlands Police 
  • The Rt. Hon. Lord Young of Old Windsor GCB, GCVO – Independent senior corporate adviser; House of Lords Finance Select Committee; former Principal Private Secretary to the Sovereign
  • Caroline Underwood OBE – Founder and CEO, Philanthropy Company

Official members:

  • Susan Acland-Hood – Permanent Secretary, Department for Education
  • Simon Ridley, Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office
  • Dr Andrew Goodall CBE – Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government
  • Will Garton – Director General, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Science, Technology and Research

Independent chair

Stephen Kelly – Chair, Tech Nation

Independent members:

  • Professor Sir Keith Burnett, CBE, FRS – Chair, Nuffield Foundation and Chair of the Academic Council, Schmidt Science Fellowship, University of Oxford.
  • Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser DBE – CEO, UK Research and Innovation
  • Professor Dame Muffy Calder DBE FRSE FREng – University of Glasgow
  • Stian Westlake – Executive Chair, Economic and Social Research Council
  • Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE FREng – Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Bath
  • Professor Dame Julia Black CBE – Warden, Nuffield College and Professor of Law and Regulation, University of Oxford
  • Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas – Professor of Innovation Management and Policy and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast 

Official members:

  • Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS – Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government and Head, Government Office for Science
  • Sarah Munby – Permanent Secretary, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
  • Professor Jas Pal Badyal FRS – Chief Scientific Advisor for Wales

Sport

Independent chair

Sir Ron Kalifa OBE

Independent members:

  • Susan Barker CBE –  Former television presenter and professional tennis player
  • Anthony Hamilton – British racing car manager
  • Elena Narozanski – Board member, Football Foundation and Sport England
  • Jennie Price CBE  – Former CEO of Sport England, Chair, International Tennis Integrity Agency
  • Robert Sullivan – CEO, Football Foundation

Official members:

  • Susannah Storey – Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
  • Jayne Brady MBE – Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service

State

Independent chair

The Rt Hon Dame Anne Rafferty DBE

Independent members:

  • Pavita Cooper – Portfolio Non-Executive Director and Chair, 30% Club UK
  • Martyn Roper – Former Diplomat, lately Governor of the Cayman Islands
  • Tony Poulter – Non-Executive Board member, Department for Transport Board; Civil Service Commissioner; Other NED roles
  • Margaret Edwards OBE – Former Chair of the Civil Service Pension Board and Civil Service Commissioner.

Official members:

  • Dame Sarah Healey DCB CVO, Permanent Secretary, Department, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Dame Antonia Romeo – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice

Diversity and Outreach Committee

The Committee will assist the committee process in delivering an honours system which is representative of UK society through a programme of policy improvements and interventions; targeted regional and sectoral outreach and publicity of the honours system; and advice to both the independent committees and Government departments.

The Committee will meet at least four times a year.

Independent Chair

Moni Mannings OBE – Senior Independent Director and Committee Member (Remuneration and Nomination), The Co-operative Group Limited and Land Securities PLC (Independent Chair)

Independent members

  • Lisa Opie – Managing Director, Ubisoft Reflections; Chair, ScreenSkills; Chair, Together TV (Arts and Media Committee)
  • Eddie Lynch MBE – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group Chair, Abri; Board Member, London Travelwatch; Misconduct Hearings Independent Panel Member, Thames Valley Police (Community and Voluntary Service Committee)
  • Dame Julia Hoggett DBE – CEO, London Stock Exchange (Economy Committee)
  • Clive Lawrence OBE – Chief Education Officer at Esteem Multi-Academy Trust (Education Committee)
  • Wol Kolade – Managing Partner of Livingbridge, lately Deputy Chair of NHS England and lately Chair of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation (Health and Social Care Committee)
  • Craig Stephenson OBE –  Trustee, Public Appointee and formerly Director at Welsh Parliament (Parliamentary and Political Service Committee)
  • Caroline Underwood OBE – Founder and CEO, Philanthropy Company (Public Service Committee)
  • Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas – Professor of Innovation Management and Policy and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast (Science, Technology and Research Committee)
  • Jennie Price CBE – Former CEO of Sport England, Chair, International Tennis Integrity Agency (Sport Committee)
  • Pavita Cooper – Portfolio Non-Executive Director and Chair, 30% Club UK (State Committee)

Role of the Prime Minister

Prime Ministers set the strategic direction for each honours list. This means that they can provide a steer to people putting forward nominations and to the independent committee members about the type of recognition they would prefer to see on the honours list. Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has updated his strategic priorities for the honours system in 2025.

The Prime Minister would like to see the honours system be properly reflective of UK  society. There should be representation from the length and breadth of the country and  all sections of society, reflecting the incredible contributions made across every part of  the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister would like to see more recipients from  underrepresented communities and would like to see further variety in the types of  work rewarded. The honours system should also seek to reward individuals in all  stages of life, young and old. 

The Prime Minister supports nominations for those going above and beyond to deliver  positive change for their communities. Honours should not be automatic or assumed  due to a job or position an individual holds, unless it can be demonstrated that there  has been action beyond the call of duty. Awards for local champions should be  prioritised, in addition to those that have shown real delivery and an impact to citizens  through their actions to better the lives of others, driven forward national renewal, and  secured our future as a society.

In addition, the Prime Minister would like to see the honours system especially  recognise

  • Those working to deliver and reinforce the Strong Foundations of the UK through  economic stability, national security, and border security. 
  • Those working to Kickstart Economic Growth, delivering economic stability, and  increasing productivity in every part of the country, to make everyone better off.
  • Those working to Rebuild Britain, working to deliver a transformational 1.5 million  homes, and building the infrastructure this country needs. 
  • Health professionals working to build an NHS fit for the future, reducing waiting times  and ensuring fewer lives lost to the biggest killers. 
  • Those working to ensure Safer Streets, preventing and addressing crime, such as  violence against women and girls and knife crime, and improving their communities. 
  • Those working to Break Down Barriers to Opportunity by ensuring children have the  best start in life, and that, regardless of background, they can go on to achieve  throughout school and in their careers. Those working to Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower, by delivering clean and  renewable energy, addressing climate change, and helping the UK accelerate to Net  Zero.”

Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee)

The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known as the HD Committee) is the policy-making body for the honours system. 

The HD Committee gives advice directly to The Sovereign about possible changes to the honours system and military medals policy, including considering new awards. Its members are senior officials in the Civil Service and the Royal Household.

Membership of the HD Committee:

  • Dame Sarah Healey DCB CVO
  • Principal Private Secretary to HM King
  • Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
  • Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • Permanent Secretary of the Home Office
  • Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence
  • Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood

The HD Committee aims to meet two to three times per year.

Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC)

The Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) considers claims for medallic recognition of past military service. It is a sub-committee of the HD Committee.