More open honours system recommended
A new report on the honours system, from the permanent secretary at the Department of Constitutional Affairs, has said that the system should be more open and transparent.
His review follows hot on the heels of the investigation into honours by the Public Accounts Select Committee. It concluded that the current system was “secretive, over-complicated and out of date” and recommended that civil servants should be removed from making decisions on honours.
It also called for OBE to be changed to Order of British Excellence from Order of the British Empire, the current title being describe as “anachronistic and insensitive”.
There is no mention of any renaming of awards in today’s report.
Sir Hayden Phillips said he found there was “no evidence of broad public opinion in favour of abolishing honours” and said his report would focus on increasing the public’s understanding of honours.
Though he does not concur with the MPs that civil servants should be removed entirely from the decision making process, he recommends that the committee that advises on honours nominations should be chaired by someone independent from the Government, and civil service members of the committee should be the minority.
He also agrees that too many civil servants, diplomats and military officers receive honours, and suggested that they should receive 20 per cent of awards (down from 27 per cent currently) within the next three to five years.
Sir Hayden Phillips said: “My report deals with the important issues of fairness and confidence in the processes of the honours system. A trusted honours system is our way in the United Kingdom of saying thank you publicly to those who have gone the extra mile in their service or who stand head and shoulders above others in their distinction.
“My recommendations aim to ensure the honours system evolves in a fair and open way, reflecting diversity in society and ensuring diversity on honours committees.”
Cabinet Secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull welcomed the statement and said that the Government “will make a statement on the way forward later in the year.”
