09 January 2009
By Vivienne Russell
The New Years Honours list once again recognised leadership and success across the public sector but stirred up controversy as Treasury permanent secretary Nick Macpherson was rewarded with a knighthood.
Macpherson has held the top job at the Treasury since 2005 and is thought to be close to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The government said the knighthood was given to 'recognise his extraordinary work in response to the crisis in the financial sector'.
But opposition MPs suggested it was too early to tell whether any Treasury action had been a success. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable suggested the honour was 'premature'. 'There is a slight element of self-congratulation about it,' he said.
Conservative MP Michael Fallon, a member of the Treasury select committee, agreed. '[The Treasury] haven't solved the banking crisis yet or brought stability to the financial system,' he said.
Elsewhere in Whitehall there was also a knighthood for Jonathan Phillips, permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office. The Cabinet Office said the award was in recognition of his diplomatic skills, which have 'enabled once intractable parties to come together and form a government working for the good of all of Northern Ireland's citizens'.
Anne Owers, chief inspector of prisons, was made a dame in recognition of her service to the criminal justice system. Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, received a CBE.
In local government, there were CBEs for John Coughlan and John Freeman, directors of children's services in Hampshire and Dudley respectively and the former joint chairs of the Association of Directors of Children's Services. Lucy de Groot, outgoing executive director of the Improvement and Development Agency, was also rewarded with a CBE, as was David Parsons, the leader of Leicestershire County Council and chair of the East Midlands Regional Assembly.
There was also a CBE for David Prince, CIPFA member and former chief executive of councillor watchdog the Standards Board for England. 'The honour came as a great surprise but I have no doubt it reflects the work of the committed and highly talented people I've been privileged to work with in all my jobs,' he told PF.
Trevor Salmon, city treasurer at Belfast City Council and a CIPFA council member, was awarded the OBE.
In the health service, there was a CBE for David Flory, director general for NHS finance, performance and operations, and a knighthood for Neil McKay, chief executive of East of England Strategic Health Authority. Professor Sally Davies, director of research and development at the Department of Health, was made a dame.
Peter Dixon, former chair of the Housing Corporation, was knighted for his services to the housing sector.
PFjan2009
