Appointment: Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission
The Prime Minister has appointed Lord Kakkar as Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
The appointment will be for a single non-renewable term of 5 years.
The Prime Minister said:
I am pleased to appoint Lord Kakkar to this role. The committee will benefit hugely from his vast experience and integrity. I am grateful for the contribution Lord Jay has made over the last five years.
Lord Kakkar will replace Lord Jay as chairman whose 5 year term expires in the autumn.
Notes to editors
The appointment is for 5 years and will be effective from 1 October 2013.
The new chairman will be paid on the basis of a non-pensionable salary of £8,000 per annum, with the chair being expected to commit an average of 2 to 3 days a month.
Lord Kakkar
Lord Kakkar is a consultant surgeon and has been the Professor of Surgery at University College London since 2011.
He currently chairs the Health Honours Committee and is a member of the main Honours Committee. He has published extensively on health issues.
Lord Kakkar has declared no political activity. He will take up post on 1 October 2013.
The appointment process for this appointment was fully in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.
The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee held a pre-appointment hearing on 18 July 2013, and published a report on the appointment which says:
We are satisfied that Lord Kakkar has the professional competence and personal independence required for the post of Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. We therefore support his appointment and wish him every success in his new role.
Further information
The House of Lords Appointments Commission is an advisory non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Cabinet Office. The chair and members are appointed by the Prime Minister. The committee was established in 2000. Additional information about the committee and its work is available on the House of Lords Appointments Commission website.