By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 10:39, Tuesday, 05 February 2013

The Queen has appointed Lord Henley of Scaleby, near Carlisle, to the Privy Council.

The Privy Council – one of Britain’s oldest institutions – is a body that advises the head of state of the nation.

The word “privy” means “private” or “secret”; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch’s closest advisers to give confidential advice on affairs of state.

Lord Henley, 59, a former Home Office Minister, entered Parliament in 1977 as a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

He became a Conservative whip in 1989 and held ministerial posts in the departments of social security, employment, defence, and education and employment.

He was one of 92 hereditary peers allowed to remain in the Lords following the House of Lords Act in 1999.

He became an environment minister following the 2010 General Election, then moved to the Home Office where he had special responsibility for crime prevention and reducing antisocial behaviour.

He left his post in a cabinet reshuffle last year.

First published at 10:38, Tuesday, 05 February 2013
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk