Political Updates 29 January 2018

This week’s Political Updates, covers moves and changes at all levels of government. 

  Government departments

Home Office

Sara Khan has been appointed as the new lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism at the Home Office.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Professor Mark Thomson has been chosen as the Executive Chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council. He will assume this position in April when Research and Innovation UK is launched.

Department for Education

David Meller, co-chair of the Presidents Club has resigned from his position as non-executive member of the Department for Education’s board following the Presidents Club charity dinner scandal.

House of Commons

Robert Goodwill and Philip Dunne have been appointed as members of the Environmental Audit Committee.

Damian Moore will replace Adam Holloway as a member of the Science and Technology Committee.

David Evennett has been appointed as a member of the Procedure Committee.

House of Lords

Lord McAvoy has been elected as Chief Whip.

Lord Mendelsohn has resigned from his position as Opposition Spokesperson for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Welsh Government

Peter Halligan has been appointed Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales.

Northern Ireland Executive

Andrew McCormick has been appointed Director General of International Relations.

Noel Lavery has been appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department for the Economy replacing Andrew McCormick.

Denis McMahon has been appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs replacing Noel Lavery.

Sue Gray has been appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance.

Hugh Widdis has been appointed Departmental Solicitor and Head of the Government Legal Service.

European Parliament

This week, the European Parliament is holding Committee meetings in Brussels.