New chair appointed to Committee on Standards in Public Life

Lord Evans of Weardale has been appointed as Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life for a five-year term, taking over from Lord Bew.

The appointment by the Prime Minister followed pre-appointment scrutiny by the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional affairs Committee.

Jonathan Evans of Weardale spent 33 years in the UK Security Service, six as Director General. During his career he has worked on counter-espionage and counter-terrorism, both international and domestic, including initiatives against cyber threats. He retired from the Security Service in April 2013.

Lord Evans was appointed as a crossbench peer for his contribution to public service by the Prime Minister in 2014 and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2013 New Year Honours List.

The Committee's current projects includes a review of local government ethical standards.