10 December 2007
On 15 November, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of Sir Suma Chakrabarti KCB as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice.
Suma becomes the department's most senior civil servant today - 10 December - after moving from the Department for International Development (DfID), where he held the same role.
Suma joins a department responsible for the courts, prisons, and government policy on, amongst other things, the constitution, human rights and freedom of information. He will oversee the work of nearly 80,000 employees.
Leaving DfID after six years, Suma said:
'I very much enjoyed my work on international development issues, but am looking forward to the many different challenges of my new role.
'The Ministry of Justice is a major player in Whitehall and I'm very proud to be joining the ministry, to be working with Jack Straw and his ministerial team, and leading the department in the next phase of its development. I am also grateful to Alex Allan, who oversaw the creation of the ministry, for his commitment and achievements throughout his time at the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.'
Suma will be based at the Ministry of Justice's headquarters in Victoria.
Notes to editors
- The Ministry of Justice was formed on 9 May 2007, and includes the National Offender Management Service from the Home Office, and the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
- Suma Chakrabarti began his Civil Service career in 1984 at the Overseas Development Administration, later holding senior positions at the Treasury and the Cabinet Office.
- Suma is 48, married with one daughter. His interests are sport, music and travel.
- Alex Allan, DCA and MoJ Permanent Secretary from 2004 to 2007, has been appointed as chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and head of intelligence assessment.