With the establishment of the Press Recognition Panel, the Royal Charter placed a number of duties on the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The Commissioner convened an Appointments Committee to appoint its first Board members. Thereafter, the Press Recognition Panel recruits its own Board members, with the process being assured by the Commissioner.
In light of the then-Commissioner, Peter Riddell, being a former journalist and editor, he delegated his powers of assurance to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission, to remove any perception of conflict of interest. OCPA has reviewed this delegation in light of William Shawcross CVO becoming Commissioner for Public Appointments on 1 October 2021. He has agreed to continue the delegation, to remove any perception of conflict of interest, in light of his previous journalism career.
In the interests of transparency, the correspondence between OCPA and the Press Recognition Panel is published below. If you require an accessible format of this correspondence, please contact OCPA.
On 1 December 2022, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB) outlining the conclusion of the process to find new members of the PRP. Kavalneer Walia, Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission responded on 12 January 2023 (PDF, 2 pages, 110 KB) with her assurance over the competition run by the PRP.
On 5 September 2022, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 2 pages, 746KB) outlining the process to begin recruitment for a new member of the PRP. On 22 September, Kavalneer Walia, Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, responded (PDF, 2 pages, 45 KB) with her assurance over the steps taken so far by the PRP.
On 23 May 2022, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 4 pages, 176KB) outlining the conclusion of the process to find new members of the PRP. Pete Lawrence, Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission responded on 6 June 2022 (PDF, 2 pages, 128 KB) with his assurance over the competition run by the PRP.
On 30 March 2022, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 4 pages, 194KB) outlining the conclusion of the process to find a new Chair of the PRP. Pete Lawrence, Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission responded on 4 April (PDF, 2 pages, 162 KB) with his assurance over the competition run by the PRP.
On 14 October, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 2 pages, 115 KB) outlining the process to begin recruitment for a new Chair of the PRP. Pete Lawrence, Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission responded (PDF, 2 pages, 80 KB) with his assurance over the steps taken so far by the PRP.
On 28 September 2020, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 5 pages, 227 KB) outlining the process to appoint two new members to the board of the press recognition panel. On the 7 October 2020, Pete Lawrence, Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission responded (PDF, 2 pages, 91 KB) with his determination on the process followed.
On 14 May 2020, the Chief Executive of the Press Recognition Panel wrote to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission (PDF, 2 pages, 65 KB) outlining the PRP’s progress on recruiting two new members. The CSC Chief Executive replied (PDF, 1 page, 90 KB) on 18 May 2020.
If you require an accessible format of this correspondence, please contact OCPA.
On the 19th of November 2018, the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission wrote to the Chief Executive of the PRP about succession planning for the PRP’s Board Members. A copy of this letter can be viewed here: Letter from CSC to the PRP (PDF, 2 pages, 102 KB)
The Chief Executive of the PRP responded on the 6th of December 2018. A copy of this letter can be viewed here: Letter from PRP to CSC (PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB)
If you require accessible formats of this correspondence, please contact OCPA
In 2014, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Sir David Normington, provided assurance that the appointments to the Press Recognition Panel were made through fair and open competition. The Additional Functions for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (PDF, 5 pages, 806 KB) were discussed in correspondence between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Commissioner.
Appointment letter of David Wolfe QC, Chair Designate (PDF, 1 page, 60 KB)
Appointment letter of Emma Gilpin-Jacobs (PDF, 1 page, 117 KB)
Appointment letter of Harry Cayton (PDF, 1 page, 117)
Appointment letter of Harry Rich (PDF, 1 page, 117KB)
Appointment letter of Tim Suter (PDF, 1 page, 117KB)
Appointment letter of Carolyn Regan (PDF, 1 page, 117KB)