Lay members appointed to the Security Vetting Appeals Panel
Five lay members have been appointed and will take up roles on the panel.
The Government has appointed five lay members to join the Security Vetting Appeals Panel (SVAP).
The SVAP is an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office. It provides a final means of challenging a decision to refuse or withdraw national security vetting.
It is available to hear appeals from individuals in government departments, the armed forces, the police and other organisations, or from those employed by contractors of those departments and organisations, who have been through the relevant internal appeal process and had their appeal rejected.
The SVAP currently has 10 sitting members: a chair, a deputy chair, and eight lay members. Five new lay members have been appointed, replacing members whose terms had come to an end.
The new appointees are:
Matthew Parr: A senior public servant who has undertaken roles as His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and of Fire and Rescue Services. He was previously a senior officer in the Royal Navy.
Delroy Henry: Currently His Majesty’s Area Coroner for the Coronial Area of Coventry & Warwickshire.
Suzy Walton: A board director with expertise in corporate governance, regulation, health, education, science and human behaviour. Suzy has previously worked in the Cabinet Office.
Tracey Tuffuor Oppong: A solicitor with expertise in civil litigation, public law, high profile inquest and public inquiries.
Mary Calam: An non-executive director, board adviser and consultant, with expertise in governance and risk and experience working in public and private sectors.
Lay members are responsible for reviewing decisions to refuse or withdraw security clearance and the process involved. SVAP makes recommendations to the head of the department or organisation involved. SVAP recommendations are not binding though in practice they are almost invariably followed.