Tag: Cabinet Office

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2025.

Today (Thursday 13 February) the UK Government is introducing legislation to remove the legal barrier to Roman Catholics holding the office of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

The Lord High Commissioner is appointed to attend the proceedings on The King’s behalf as the Sovereign’s representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland – the governing body of the Church of Scotland, which meets each May in Edinburgh.

The Lord High Commissioner makes opening and closing addresses and carries out a number of official functions. The Assembly meets annually to hear reports from the councils and committees, makes laws and sets the agenda for the Church of Scotland.

Currently, Roman Catholics are legally restricted from holding the office of Lord High Commissioner due to historic legislation, including the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. The Government will introduce a short and narrowly-focused Bill – the Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill – to remove this restriction. Individuals of other faiths and none can currently hold the office.

The Bill will facilitate the upcoming appointment of Lady Elish Angiolini as the Lord High Commissioner for 2025.  Lady Elish would be the first Roman Catholic to hold this office.

Lady Elish Angiolini is a practising Roman Catholic and has a distinguished background in law and academia. Her appointment will be a significant gesture of unity, goodwill and collaboration between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland, following the St Margaret Declaration signed in 2022.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2025.

Thousands of small businesses across the country will have more opportunities to win valuable contracts with public sector organisations, kickstarting local economic growth and innovation

• Complicated government buying processes will be simplified to make it easier for small businesses to win contracts, bringing jobs and growth to local areas and across the UK as government delivers on its Plan for Change.
• Alongside measures for small business, companies that win public sector contracts will be told to advertise vacancies at local job centres to help get Britain back to work and breaking down barriers to opportunity for millions across the country.
• Further measures introduced to cut government waste and drive value for money.

Thousands of small businesses across the country will have more opportunities to win valuable contracts with public sector organisations, kickstarting local economic growth and innovation and creating jobs for local communities as the Government delivers on its Plan for Change.

Measures announced by the Government today will speed up and simplify procurement processes in the public sector, where £400 billion is spent each year on essential goods and services – driving growth and improving the lives of working people.

The changes outlined today include proposals for a major shake-up of spending rules, with local councils able to reserve contracts for small businesses to maximise spend within their area and help boost local economies.

Alongside this, a new duty will be placed on firms that win contracts with government bodies to advertise jobs at job centres, delivering real change for people, bringing good jobs closer to home and getting Britain back to work.

The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS), will gear all parts of the public sector towards delivering growth. The new rules include eight actions to return public procurement back into the service of the country and working people, and drive forward the Plan for Change.

Georgia Gould, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, said:

Businesses tell me that the current system isn’t working. It is slow, complicated and too often means small businesses in this country are shut out of public sector contracts.

These measures will change that, giving them greater opportunity to access the £400 billion spent on public procurement every year, investing in home grown talent and driving innovation and growth.

This new policy statement sets out our vision for how procurement can put this country back into the service of working people, and deliver our Plan for Change – by making sure the public sector is committed to growing the economy and empowering our communities with innovation and opportunity.

Current processes require Social Value measures on contracts, which put requirements on businesses to help bring forward positive change in communities and the country as a whole.

However, there are currently multiple different approaches used across the public sector and potentially many different criteria, confusing business and making it harder to ensure the commitments made are actually delivered.

The Government will be updating and streamlining the system used by all central government departments and their agencies to align it with the Government’s missions.

This will make it simpler to use, giving small businesses a better chance when bidding for contracts, and will make sure companies who profit from government work give back to the community.

Small Business Minister Gareth Thomas said:

For too long small businesses have been stuck on the sidelines of the procurement process with complicated bureaucracy and a confusing system. That changes today.

These measures will mean small firms can more easily offer their expertise to key projects both locally and nationally, helping SMEs to scale up, securing jobs and creating opportunities across the country.

AI and Digital Government Minister Feryal Clark said:

There is a £45 billion jackpot of potential productivity savings if we make full use of technology across our public services, it is not an opportunity we can miss.

To get this right, we need to make sure public sector organisations can get their hands on the right technology for them, quickly. That’s why our Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence will help the rest of the public sector invest in long-term solutions and stop hasty quick fixes.

Alongside the NPPS, a range of measures to support its delivery and make savings across government are also being introduced.

This includes the development of a new AI tool for commercial teams across government to cut bureaucracy wherever possible – such as to simplify redacting contracts and quality assurance of procurement documents.

As first announced in the blueprint for a modern digital government, a new Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence will also be set up in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to embed a “buy once and well” attitude, and drive innovative solutions to problems facing our public sector, securing long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes for digital and IT products and opening up opportunities for small and medium businesses to work on digital transformation.

The current system is broken: two departments might buy two types of equipment for the same purpose, requiring two teams with different individual skills to service and maintain.

The new approach means buying only once – requiring only one team, and one set of skills, removing duplication, saving the taxpayer money, and reducing waste in government.

A new Commercial Innovation Hub is also being considered, to establish a golden link across government departments, embedding learnings from extraordinary events such as vaccine procurement into our day to day processes. This will support departments to deliver greater value from the new flexible powers offered by the Procurement Act – and act as a workshop to seek out innovative commercial solutions that drive greater value.

The NAO recently estimated there are between 8,000 and 21,000 frameworks available to public sector buyers through external third party organisations. These agreements are often not transparent, with hidden fees and charges, racking up the cost of common goods and services.

A new Register of Framework agreements will be produced, shining a light on those rip-off frameworks from third party providers that are profiting off our local councils and NHS, taking money away from front line services.

The Government will also be consulting on more reforms including a requirement for large contracting authorities to publish their three-year targets for small business and social enterprise spend and report on this annually – as well as the exclusion of suppliers from contracts worth more than £5million if they don’t complete prompt payments of invoices.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 February 2025.

Completed legislation will widen compensation service to all eligible victims of the Infected Blood Scandal.

• New draft laws will be debated and approved by Parliament before becoming law in March
• Over £13.4 million already paid out to infected individuals, and £11.8 billion allocated in the Autumn Budget

Today the government will deliver on its commitment to complete its legislation underpinning the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, which will widen the compensation service to all eligible victims of the Infected Blood Scandal.

This will ensure that parents, partners, children, siblings and some carers of those who contracted illnesses will also be able to apply for compensation, and take another important step towards justice.

Existing legislation underpinning the compensation scheme applied to people who contracted illnesses, as a result of the scandal, rather than those who were indirectly affected.

This first phase of legislation was established in August 2024, just weeks after the General Election. It gave the Infected Blood Compensation Authority the powers to pay compensation to both living and deceased victims who contracted illnesses.

The Government allocated £11.8 billion in the Autumn Budget to compensate victims of the Infected Blood Scandal, with these new laws setting out more detail on how funds will be administered.

The draft laws will be debated and must be approved by both Houses of Parliament to then formally be established as laws, which the Government hopes will happen by the 31st March 2025.

Once this happens, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority will have the required powers to pay compensation to all victims who are eligible under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is an independent organisation set up by the Cabinet Office on recommendation from the Infected Blood Inquiry. It has already started to provide compensation to victims who contracted illnesses, with over £13.4 million paid by mid-January.

Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, The Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said:

This Government is determined to deliver justice for the victims of the Infected Blood Scandal and is going further than any other before.

Having met many of the infected blood community, I know the scale of suffering people have endured. These new laws will be vital to delivering compensation to people who did such a huge amount and often suffered so much themselves when caring for their loved ones who contracted life-changing illnesses.

I hope that completing this legislation and allocating over £11 billion in the budget brings a sense of reassurance to the community of how committed this government is to delivering justice.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 4 February 2025.

Andrew Forzani has been appointed Government Chief Commercial Officer to steer the cross-government commercial community in delivering the Plan for Change.

Following an open and fair recruitment process, Andrew Forzani, has been appointed as the new UK Government Chief Commercial Officer.

The appointment comes as the government prepares to introduce the Procurement Act 2023 this month and publish an updated National Procurement Policy Statement.

Andrew’s experience of over 30 years in commercial, procurement and supply chain management will be invaluable in steering the cross-government commercial community to deliver the Plan for Change.

He will focus over 6,000 commercial professionals who are managing and influencing £176 billion of procurement spend on vital goods and services, into delivering for working people, ensuring every pound spent of taxpayer money delivers for the public.

From roads and trains to defence equipment and energy, government procurement is present in millions of everyday lives. By refocusing and reimagining the way we do public procurement, we can rebuild Britain in a decade of national renewal.

Andrew is currently the Director General Commercial at the Ministry of Defence (MOD), prior to joining the MOD in 2017 he was the Chief Commercial Officer at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, Cat Little said:

“The Government Commercial Function provides a crucial service to Government, delivering mission led procurement policy, harnessing the public sector’s collective purchasing power and working hard to improve the commercial capabilities of the Civil Service.

“Andrew has a wealth of senior commercial experience both within government and beyond, and will continue to drive excellence and commercial expert advice in everything we do. I look forward to working with him in this new role.”

Andrew Forzani said:

“I am extremely proud to be appointed as UK Government Chief Commercial Officer, at a critical point for our function. This is an exciting time for the UK Government, with a unique set of challenges ahead of us.  But as we have seen, a highly skilled and committed public procurement community has repeatedly stepped up to meet these challenges head on and I’m confident we can continue to do so.

“I look forward to working with the entire Government Commercial Function community across the United Kingdom to ensure that every pound we spend or influence goes towards delivering great outcomes for the Country and the Plan for Change.”

The Government Commercial Function

The Government Commercial Function is a cross-government network procuring or supporting the procurement of goods and services for the government.

The GCF was formed in 2015 and incorporates around 6,000 people working in commercial roles, predominantly within central government departments and some Arm’s-Length Bodies.

The commercial teams in departments are supported by a central team based in the Cabinet Office which provides cross-cutting functional coordination support, as well as specialist services and expert advice on complex transactions, key suppliers and market stewardship.  This helps to ensure that the Government can effectively leverage its significant scale, benefit from greater efficiency and drive improved value for money from its suppliers and the wider supply chain.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 January 2025.

Michael Ellam appointed as Second Permanent Secretary, European Union and International Economic Affairs.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Michael Ellam as Second Permanent Secretary, European Union and International Economic Affairs in the Cabinet Office. Michael was Chairman of Public Sector Banking at HSBC.

This is a new role, leading official-level discussions with the EU and in international forums such as the G7 and G20 to support the UK’s economic growth and national security – the foundations of the Government’s Plan For Change. Michael will also manage the EU Relations Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, set up by the Prime Minister in July to deliver the UK’s resetting of relationships with the EU and secure closer links in areas like trade and security.

Michael will take up the post on 13th January.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations) the Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds, said:

I am delighted that Michael Ellam is bringing his talents to the heart of government, helping us tackle barriers to trade, keep people safe and take on shared global challenges, like illegal migration.

The Prime Minister has set out a clear plan for change to improve people’s lives. That includes growing our economy and improving national security.  Michael’s experience at the highest levels of international finance will be a huge asset as we work to deliver economic growth on behalf of the British people, including through resetting our relationship with the EU.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald said:

I would like to congratulate Michael on his appointment and welcome him back to the Civil Service. Through his leadership roles, including at HSBC and HM Treasury, Michael brings essential economic and international expertise which will help drive UK economic and security interests and will be critical in resetting our relationship with the EU.

Michael Ellam said:

I am delighted to have been appointed Second Permanent Secretary European Union and International Economic Affairs, and to return to the Civil Service after a decade in the private sector. I look forward to working with the Prime Minister, the Minister for EU Relations and others to deliver the government’s objectives on this important agenda.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The recruitment process was overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission.
• This is a Permanent Secretary level appointment offered on a fixed tenure basis for 5 years.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 3 January 2025.

The Government Lead Non-Executive will bring non executives from different departments together to ensure cross cutting delivery is pursued across government.

The Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock DBE, CB, has been appointed by the Prime Minister as the government’s Lead Non-Executive Director (NED).

Baroness Casey will oversee non-executives from across government to support the delivery of the Plan for Change. Coordinating the substantial experience within departmental boards to deliver cross-government priorities – as we rebuild Britain in a decade of national renewal.

She will work closely with the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, and other senior civil servants across government.

Baroness Casey will also play a key role in recruiting and coordinating non-executive directors, setting cross-cutting NED priorities. She will also support the Cabinet Office and other departments to deliver the Plan for Change: driving economic growth to put more money in working people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, securing our borders, and rebuilding Britain in a decade of national renewal.

Baroness Casey has had a varied career both within and outside of government, and currently sits as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords. She left the Civil Service in 2017 to set up the international homelessness charity, Institute for Global Homelessness. She has a long track record of delivery in government, from tackling rough sleeping to pioneering approaches for helping vulnerable families, as well as leading a number of reviews, including most recently into the standards and culture of the Metropolitan Police.

Alongside her work as Government Lead NED, it has also been announced today that Baroness Louise Casey will chair an independent Commission to find long-term and sustainable solutions for adult social care in England.

The Commission, formally launched today by the Prime Minister, will form a key part of the government’s Plan for Change which will turn around health and care services so they are fit for the future.

Non-Executive Boards Members are drawn from outside government including from business, academia, think tanks and the voluntary sector, to sit on departmental boards. Their role is to support ministers and officials to strengthen the governance of departments, by bringing a commercial or independent perspective. They help provide constructive scrutiny and internal challenge to the work of government.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said:

Baroness Casey will bring outstanding experience in tackling some of the most difficult issues facing the country. This will be crucial in coordinating Non-Executive Directors across government to deliver our priorities.

We have an ambitious programme ahead for us, and I welcome Baroness Casey’s appointment to the role, and look forward to working with her to deliver the Plan for Change.

Baroness Casey said:

I am pleased to be appointed by the Prime Minister to be the Government Lead Non-Executive Director.

I look forward to working with Ministers and senior Civil Service leadership to drive forward the delivery of this Government’s important commitments.

Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, Cat Little said:

Government Non-Executive Directors provide vital scrutiny and challenge to departmental boards, guiding our work and helping us deliver for people across the country.

Baroness Louise Casey brings extensive experience from leadership roles in and out of the government. I look forward to working with her as Government Lead Non-Executive Director, as we focus all parts of government on delivering the Plan for Change.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 18 December 2024.

John-Paul Marks announced as the new Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive at HM Revenue and Customs.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of John-Paul (JP) Marks as the new Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive at HM Revenue and Customs. JP is currently the Permanent Secretary for the Scottish Government.

JP will replace Sir Jim Harra who will step down in April 2025.

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon. James Murray, said

I am delighted JP has been chosen as HMRC’s new Permanent Secretary and I look forward to working with him on developing a strategy for HMRC which progresses the government’s priorities for HMRC to reduce the tax gap, modernise and reform the tax system and improve customer service

I want to add my thanks to Sir Jim Harra for his years of public service and wish him all the very best for the future.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald said

I would like to congratulate JP on his appointment. He brings vast experience to the role from his time as Permanent Secretary at the Scottish Government and from earlier Director General roles at DWP. JP is excellently placed to continue the transformation of HMRC, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s Plan for Change and improving the experiences of taxpayers and businesses across the whole of the UK.

I would like to thank Sir Jim Harra for his leadership of HMRC over the last five years and for his many years of dedicated public service.

JP Marks said:

It is a privilege to be appointed to lead HMRC. I look forward to supporting the Department’s vital work to collect the revenues which fund public services, and to working with the Board, colleagues and partners in the years ahead to deliver service modernisation and reform.

I am grateful to the First Minister and his predecessors for the opportunity to serve as Permanent Secretary. I would like to pay tribute to the civil servants across the Scottish Government and thank our teams and partners for their leadership, professionalism and support. Over the next few months, I, along with my Executive Team, remain firmly focused on supporting the First Minister and delivering his Programme for Government.

The appointment follows an external recruitment competition overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission. The process to recruit JP’s successor will commence shortly.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 December 2024.

Government reaches a historic milestone as the first compensation payments are accepted by victims of infected blood scandal.

• Ten people offered compensation totalling over £13 million, with 25 more people invited to claim
• Payments are being made by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) as part of new compensation service
• Delivering on commitments to deliver compensation after allocating £11.8bn in the Budget

Victims of the infected blood scandal are due to receive their first compensation payments this week, in a historical milestone reached by the government.

Ten people have been offered compensation totalling over £13 million. The first few people have accepted their offers and are due to receive payment in the coming days. These individuals, whose identities are being kept private, were infected with illnesses as a result of receiving infected blood and infected blood products.

25 more people have recently been invited to make their claim for compensation and once doing so, will also receive offers. This follows commitments to deliver compensation after allocating £11.8bn in the Budget.

Compensation is being delivered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, which the government established as an independent organisation in May this year on recommendation from the Infected Blood Inquiry. IBCA is led by interim chair Sir Robert Francis KC, who contributed to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

IBCA continues to work with the infected blood community to improve and grow the compensation service. It is aiming to open up the compensation service wider in the New Year.

The government designed a comprehensive, government-funded compensation scheme for infected and affected victims of infected blood earlier this year. The UK-wide scheme is based on recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry, Sir Robert Francis KC, and a group of independent legal, healthcare and financial experts.

The compensation scheme was updated in August following further recommendations from Sir Robert Francis, based on his engagement with the community.

Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said:

This government promised to deliver action on infected blood compensation, and today is a vital step towards delivering justice for people who have waited far too long for compensation.

No amount of compensation can fully address the suffering as a result of this scandal, but I hope this shows that we are doing everything possible to deliver significant compensation to people infected and affected. That is why this government set aside £11.8 billion for this scheme in the Budget.

After so many years of injustice, I hope that this brings some reassurance to a community who have suffered immeasurably that action is being taken.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 December 2024.

UK Government has launched an open search today for a team to create a design masterplan to honour The Late Queen.

• Competition welcomes architect-led multidisciplinary teams to submit details of profile, team composition, and experience. No design is required at first stage
• Finalist teams to create concept masterplans for site within St James’s Park, London
• Deadline 14:00 GMT, 20 January, 2025

Leading artists, architects and engineers can express their interest in designing the masterplan for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial will be one of the most significant design projects in recent British history and will provide the nation with a permanent memorial to the UK’s longest-serving monarch.

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, chaired by The Late Queen’s former Private Secretary, Lord Janvrin, is working with competition specialists at Malcolm Reading Consultants to identify a team of inspired and dedicated artists, architects, engineers, and landscape architects and other specialists who would be interested in designing the project.

The Committee is urging creatives interested in designing the masterplan for the Queen Elizabeth II National Memorial Masterplan Design Competition to submit a twelve-page Expression of Interest via the online form.

Full details of the project and how to enter the competition are available on the dedicated competition website: https://competitions.malcolmreading.com/queenelizabethmemorial

Details of the Selection Panel can also be found in the Competition Conditions available on the website.

The first stage of the two-stage competition opens today 12 December 2024 and closes at 14:00 on 20 January 2025. Subsequently, there will be a ten-week design stage for a shortlist of five competitors. No design work is required at stage one.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said:

Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning Monarch and Her Majesty dedicated her life to serving the people of the United Kingdom.

This National Memorial will provide a permanent tribute to The Late Queen’s legacy, offering space for reflection as well as celebration. We want the very best architects and designers to come forward with their ideas for how this historic project should look.

Committee Chair Lord Janvrin said:

We want to attract the finest teams of architects, artists, landscape architects, engineers and other specialists to work with us to create an outstanding design for the memorial site. We are looking for teams who thoroughly understand and connect with our ambitions for the project.

The challenge at the second stage for the finalists will be to evoke memories of Queen Elizabeth II’s outstanding contribution to national life and to tell the story of Her Majesty’s long reign through an original masterplan that is sensitive to the unique setting.

The memorial must be – simply – a beautiful place, somewhere to visit with family and friends, to enjoy and to reflect on an extraordinary life.

The Memorial will be located in St James’s Park, the UK’s oldest Royal Park, and close to Buckingham Palace.

The site includes the area of the Grade I listed Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate, and the land surrounding the pathway down to the lake including the Blue Bridge and the land either side and across to Birdcage Walk.

The Committee is seeking a design that is beautiful, inclusive and sustainable. The competition brief sets out defining elements including a new bridge over the lake and opportunities for artistic interventions and enhanced  landscaping.

The new memorial will be of outstanding design quality and an emotionally powerful place, with celebratory spaces as well as areas to encourage reflection. Integral to the Committee’s vision is the intention to place a standalone monument including a figurative representation of the late Queen at the Marlborough Gate entrance.

Post-competition, an artist/sculptor for the figurative element will be appointed by the winning lead designer in consultation and agreement with the Committee, ensuring a strong creative match and an integrated scheme.

As a national memorial to the country’s longest-serving and much-respected Monarch, the Government has identified a provisional construction budget of £23m-46m excluding VAT for the project. The provisional construction budget is required at this stage as a guide for designers to develop their proposals. The final cost will depend on the winning design and will be shared in due course. The Committee will judge all submissions against a value for money criteria.

This provisional construction cost includes the replacement of the Blue Bridge – an important public amenity in St James’s Park.

The shortlist is expected to be announced in spring 2025 and the winner in early summer 2025.

The final design will be announced to coincide with what would have been Her Late Majesty’s 100th birthday year in 2026, following approval from the Prime Minister and His Majesty The King.

The Committee has visited the four nations of the United Kingdom and engaged widely to ensure ideas and suggestions from the public, experts and key stakeholder groups inform the project scope and competition brief. The winning team will be expected to work with the Committee on their public engagement strategy.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 15 November 2024.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop leading the Church of England. They are appointed by His Majesty The King, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, on the recommendation of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC).

Upon the resignation of an Archbishop of Canterbury a Crown Nominations Commission is established to identify and submit the name of a preferred candidate to the Prime Minister, who is constitutionally responsible for advising The King on the appointment. He has no active role in the decision.

The CNC is comprised of:

• The Chair (a layperson) – to be appointed by the Prime Minister.
• A Bishop – to be elected by the House of Bishops
• The Archbishop of York or, if they choose not to be a member of the CNC, a further Bishop to be elected by the House of Bishops
• Three representatives elected from the Diocese of Canterbury by their Vacancy in See Committee
• The six representatives (three clergy and three lay) elected by General Synod to serve as members of the Commission for a five year period
• Five representatives from other churches in the Anglican Communion – one each from Africa; the Americas; Middle East and Asia; Oceania and Europe.

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary and the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments are non-voting members of the Commission.

Before the Commission meets the Church of England will lead a consultation process to determine the needs of the diocese, the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

The Commission will then meet to agree its processes and review candidates.

Since 2007, the Prime Minister has accepted the CNC’s recommended candidate and tendered their name to the Monarch.

The CNC may also submit the name of a second appointable candidate, should it not be possible to appoint the first candidate.

Once The King approves the chosen candidate, the Prime Minister’s Office will announce the name of the Archbishop-designate.

Further details on timescales will be announced in due course.