Review of Honours System
Phillips report: Honours review
Sir Hayden Phillips’ review of honours makes recommendations on modernising the UK honours system. The recommendations include measures to increase diversity among those awarded honours and to increase transparency of the process.
Government response: Honours reform
The Government has announced its response to the recent reviews of the honours system by the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) and Sir Hayden Phillips. A Command Paper - 'Reform of the Honours System' (Cm 6479) [PDF, 649KB] has been published setting out the main features. These are:
- A new system of eight honours committees will be introduced with non-civil servants in the chair and in the majority on all the committees.
- Opportunities for members of the public to serve on the committees will be advertised in the national press. Selection will be by OCPA (Nolan) approved methods. The chairs and members of the new committees will have their names made public.
- This will provide a more cost effective way of producing a transparent system than the PASC proposal for a Statutory Honours Commission.
- The Government does not accept that Knights and Dames (apart from Royal Appointments) should no longer be created. Nor does it agree with the PASC suggestion that the Orders of the Bath and St Michael and St George should no longer be used.
- The Government does not believe that the case has been made for change to the Order of the British Empire. But the Government is conscious that for some the title feels anachronistic. The Government will consider the matter further, without prejudice as to whether there should be any change.
- The Government is looking at whether the number of awards going to state servants is broadly correct.
- In the light of the recommendations by both PASC and Phillips, the Government is looking positively at the idea that holders of honours should be able to wear a small buttonhole badge or brooch. Detailed work on this will now begin.
- All are agreed that more should be done to engage the public in the honours system. Much has been done to increase public nominations (up to 6,000 cases are handled each year) but we need to do more to extend awareness to all sections of the community.
- We will be working with Lord-Lieutenants, Government Offices of the Regions and using communication specialists. We also want to make use of more opportunities for publicity, such as the publication of this Command Paper to ensure public awareness of and involvement in the honours system.
For further information please contact the review team
