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Last updated: 09 October 2009
In July 2004 two reports made recommendations to improve the transparency and accountability of the honours system.
The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) report on the honours system was published on 7 July, 2004. Sir Hayden Phillips reported to the Cabinet Secretary of the time, Sir Andrew Turnbull, on 16 July 2004.
The Government's response to the reports outlined the changes that it would make to the honours system, making it more open, diverse and easier to understand.
In line with the recommendations, honours committees are now chaired by independent eminent people from outside government who have experience in their committee's field, with a majority of non-civil servants as members.
The full membership of the honours committees was published for the first time in September 2005.
There are eight specialist committees - they are tasked with examining nominations from the public, government departments and others across the whole range of national life.
As part of an ongoing campaign the Government has taken steps towards improving diversity in the honours lists and raising people's awareness of how to make a nomination.
In its response (Reform of the Honours System) to the Public Administration Select Committee's Report A Matter of Honour: Reforming the Honours System, the Government said it would report on the operation of the system every three years. Please see the following link to the first report:
It aims briefly to describe the new arrangements; explain how they were established and comment on their performance over the period 2006 – 2008.