Terence Burns, Baron Burns
Encyclopedia
Terence Burns, Baron Burns, GCB
(born 13 March 1944, Murton, County Durham
) is a British
economist
, made a life peer
in 1998 for his services as former Chief Economic Advisor and Permanent Secretary
to HM Treasury
. He is currently Chairman of Santander UK
, Non-Executive Chairman of Glas Cymru
, and a Non-Executive Director of Pearson Group plc
. He is also President of The National Institute of Economic and Social Research
, President of the Society of Business Economists
, Chairman of the Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music
, and Chairman of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra. On 5 November 2009 he was announced Chairman Designate of Channel 4
, succeeding Luke Johnson
, who retired on 27 January 2010 following six years in the post.
from 1980 to 1991, and Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury
from 1991 to 1998.
Lord Burns was a member of the Hansard Society
Commission on Parliamentary Scrutiny which ran from 1999 to 2001. He was a member of the Scottish Fee Support Review from 1998 to 2000, and Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales in 2000. He was Chairman of the National Lottery Commission
between 2000 and 2001. He was appointed Independent Adviser to the Secretary of State
in 2003 for the BBC Charter Review.
in 1999, and Senior Independent Director in 2004. He was also a Non-Executive Director of Legal and General Group plc between 1999 and 2001, and of The British Land Company plc between 2000 and 2005. In July 2000 he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Glas Cymru
. He was named Chairman of Abbey National plc
in February 2002, and a Non-Executive Director of Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. in December 2004. He became Chairman of Marks and Spencer plc
in 2006 after serving as Deputy Chairman since 2005.
since 1998, previously serving as Vice-President since 1985. He has been President of The National Institute of Economic and Social Research
since 2003, previously serving as a Governor. He is also a Fellow
of the London Business School
, and a Vice-President of the Royal Economic Society
.
in 1999-2000, was named Chairman of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra in 2001 after serving as a Trustee since 1998 and was appointed Chairman of the Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music
in 2002 after being a Governor since 1998.
He was Non-Executive Director of Queens Park Rangers FC between 1996 and 2001. In 2004 he was appointed Chairman of the FA Structural Review by The Football Association
, and delivered his Final Report on 12 August 2005.
of the Order of the Bath
(GCB) in 1995, and was made a life peer
as Baron Burns, of Pitshanger in the London Borough of Ealing
, on 13 June 1998.
He holds honorary doctorates and professorships from five British universities.
in County Durham
and educated at the Houghton-le-Spring
Grammar School and the University of Manchester
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in economics
in 1965. He has been married to Anne Elizabeth Powell since 1969. They have a son and two daughters.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(born 13 March 1944, Murton, County Durham
Murton, County Durham
Murton is a village in County Durham, England. Lying six miles east of the city of Durham and seven miles south of Sunderland, it has a population of 7,339....
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1998 for his services as former Chief Economic Advisor and Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
to HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
. He is currently Chairman of Santander UK
Santander UK
Santander UK plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Spanish Santander Group. Based in the United Kingdom, it operates under the name of Santander. Santander is the third largest bank in the UK in terms of deposits, the second largest in terms of mortgages held, and the fourth largest in terms of...
, Non-Executive Chairman of Glas Cymru
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
, and a Non-Executive Director of Pearson Group plc
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
. He is also President of The National Institute of Economic and Social Research
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research, abbreviated to NIESR, is an independent research organisation located in the City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in 1938 with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust, the Leverhulme Trust and the Halley...
, President of the Society of Business Economists
Society of Business Economists
The Society of Business Economists is an organisation serving business economists in the UK. It publishes the journal The Business Economist .Notable members include:*Vicky Pryce*DeAnne Julius*Lord Burns*Richard O'Brien*Andrew Sentance...
, Chairman of the Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, and Chairman of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra. On 5 November 2009 he was announced Chairman Designate of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, succeeding Luke Johnson
Luke Johnson
Luke Johnson may refer to:* Luke S. Johnson , American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement* Luke Johnson , British businessman and former chairman of the British Channel 4...
, who retired on 27 January 2010 following six years in the post.
Government
His government service began as a member of the HM Treasury Academic Panel from 1976 to 1979, then Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury and Head of the Government Economic ServiceGovernment Economic Service
The Government Economic Service was founded in 1964 by Sir Alec Cairncross. It is a professional grouping of public sector economists who work across some 40 government departments and agencies, the Bank of England is also a Corporate Member of the GES. The GES recruits economists on behalf of the...
from 1980 to 1991, and Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
from 1991 to 1998.
Lord Burns was a member of the Hansard Society
Hansard Society
The Hansard Society was formed in 1944 to promote parliamentary democracy. Founded and chaired by Commander Stephen King-Hall, the first subscribers were Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee...
Commission on Parliamentary Scrutiny which ran from 1999 to 2001. He was a member of the Scottish Fee Support Review from 1998 to 2000, and Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales in 2000. He was Chairman of the National Lottery Commission
National Lottery Commission
The National Lottery Commission is the non-departmental public body set up on 1 April 1999 under the National Lottery Act 1998 to regulate the National Lottery...
between 2000 and 2001. He was appointed Independent Adviser to the Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
in 2003 for the BBC Charter Review.
Business
Lord Burns was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Pearson plcPearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
in 1999, and Senior Independent Director in 2004. He was also a Non-Executive Director of Legal and General Group plc between 1999 and 2001, and of The British Land Company plc between 2000 and 2005. In July 2000 he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Glas Cymru
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
. He was named Chairman of Abbey National plc
Abbey (bank)
Abbey National plc was a UK-based bank and former building society, which latterly traded under the Abbey brand name. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Santander of Spain in 2004, and was rebranded as Santander in January 2010, forming Santander UK along with the savings business of the...
in February 2002, and a Non-Executive Director of Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. in December 2004. He became Chairman of Marks and Spencer plc
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
in 2006 after serving as Deputy Chairman since 2005.
Professional
Lord Burns has been President of the Society of Business EconomistsSociety of Business Economists
The Society of Business Economists is an organisation serving business economists in the UK. It publishes the journal The Business Economist .Notable members include:*Vicky Pryce*DeAnne Julius*Lord Burns*Richard O'Brien*Andrew Sentance...
since 1998, previously serving as Vice-President since 1985. He has been President of The National Institute of Economic and Social Research
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research, abbreviated to NIESR, is an independent research organisation located in the City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in 1938 with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust, the Leverhulme Trust and the Halley...
since 2003, previously serving as a Governor. He is also a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
, and a Vice-President of the Royal Economic Society
Royal Economic Society
The Royal Economic Society is incorporated by a Royal Charter dated 2 December 1902. It is one of the oldest economic associations in the world. Currently it has over 3,300 individual members, of whom 60% live outside the United Kingdom...
.
Other
Lord Burns chaired the Government Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and WalesBurns Inquiry
The Burns Inquiry was a Government committee set up to examine the facts in the debate in the United Kingdom about fox hunting and other forms of hunting with dogs.-Establishment:...
in 1999-2000, was named Chairman of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra in 2001 after serving as a Trustee since 1998 and was appointed Chairman of the Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in 2002 after being a Governor since 1998.
He was Non-Executive Director of Queens Park Rangers FC between 1996 and 2001. In 2004 he was appointed Chairman of the FA Structural Review by The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
, and delivered his Final Report on 12 August 2005.
Honours
He was knighted in 1983, received the Knight Grand CrossKnight Grand Cross
Knight Grand Cross is the most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are obsolete. The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(GCB) in 1995, and was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Burns, of Pitshanger in the London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Ealing
The London Borough of Ealing is a borough in west London.-Location:The London Borough of Ealing borders the London Borough of Hillingdon to the west, the London Borough of Harrow and the London Borough of Brent to the north, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to the east and the London...
, on 13 June 1998.
He holds honorary doctorates and professorships from five British universities.
Personal life
The son of Patrick Owen Burns, a coalminer, and Doris Burns, he was born brought up in the village of MurtonMurton, County Durham
Murton is a village in County Durham, England. Lying six miles east of the city of Durham and seven miles south of Sunderland, it has a population of 7,339....
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and educated at the Houghton-le-Spring
Houghton-le-Spring
Houghton-le-Spring is part of the City of Sunderland in the county of Tyne and Wear, North East England that has its recorded origins in Norman times. It is situated almost equidistant between the cathedral city of Durham 7 miles to the south-west and the centre of the City of Sunderland about 6...
Grammar School and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1965. He has been married to Anne Elizabeth Powell since 1969. They have a son and two daughters.
Works
- Britton, A., Randolph Quirk, Terence Burns, Peter MathiasPeter MathiasPeter Mathias is a British economic historian. He attended Colston's School and Bristol Grammar School where he became interested in history. In December 1945, he applied for a scholarship at King's College, Cambridge; instead he won an Exhibition at Jesus College, Cambridge during Summer 1946...
, John Mason, The Interpretation and Use of Economic Predictions: Discussion, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Volume 407, Issue 1832, (1986), 1986RSPSA.407..123B - The UK Government's Financial Strategy (1988)