(Abolish the Treasury, cut waste by 10 billion, pay teache...)
Abolish the Treasury, cut waste by 10 billion, pay teachers more than police sergeants - these and a score of recommendations are part of a shrewd and revolutionary anatomy of Britain that eschews the need to raise taxes. The author is Chairman of Tarmac Ltd.
John Banham, communications executive. Named Knight British Empire, 1992.
Background
He was raised in Cornwall, where his father worked as a surgeon and his mother as a National Health Service (National Health Service) administrator, and was educated at Charterhouse School, and Queens" College, Cambridge, where he gained a first class degree in Natural Sciences.
Education
Bachelor, Cambridge University, 1962. Honorary fellow, Cambridge University, 1989. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Bath, 1987.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Loughborough University, 1989. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Exeter, 1993. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Strathclyde, 1995.
Career
He has been the chairman of Whitbread, a major brewer since 2000, and is also chairman of Enterprise Content Integration Ventures and Johnson Matthey. He worked at the Foreign Office for two years before moving to Reed International and then McKinsey and Company
He was the first controller of the Audit Commission from 1983 to 1987, and was then Director General of the Confederation of British Industry from 1987 to 1992. In 1992 he became chairman of the Local Government Commission for England that led to a large-scale local government reform in England.
He was knighted in 1992.
He was chairman of Tarmac from 1994 to 1999, and the chairman of Kingfisher plc from 1995 to 2001. He became the chairman of Johnson Matthey in April 2006.
He has also acted as chairman of West Country Television and as a non-executive director of both National Westminster Bank and National Power. In 1987, he was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of Bath.
Author: Future of the British Car Industry, 1975, Realizing the Promise of a National Health Service, 1977, The Anatomy of Change: Blueprint for a New Era, 1994, numerous reports for Audit Commission on education, housing, social services and local government finance, 1984-1987, for confederation British Industry on British economy, skills, transport, infrastructure urban regeneration and manufacturing.
Membership
Chairman Local Government Commission for England, 1992-1995. Member British Overseas Trade Board, 1989-1992. Board directors Business in the Community, 1989-1992.
Member council Policy Studies Institute, 1986-1992, Forum for Management Education and Development, 1988-1993, British Executive Service Overseas, 1991-1992. Member council of management People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, 1982-1993. Member governing body London Business School, 1987-1992.
Managing trustee Nuffield Foundation, since 1988. Honorary treasurer Cancer Research Campaign, since 1991.
Interests
Walking, gardening, music.
Connections
Married Frances Barbara Molyneux Favell, 1965. 3 children.