Name Paul Silk | ||
Education University of Oxford, Christ College, Brecon | ||
Sir Evan Paul Silk (born 8 February 1952 in Crickhowell, Powys) is a former clerk in the British House of Commons. He was formerly Clerk to the National Assembly for Wales from March 2001 to January 2007, the most senior official of the Assembly, and acted as the principal adviser to the Presiding Officer, responsible for all the services that are delivered to Assembly Members through the Assembly Parliamentary Service. In 2011, he was appointed as chair of the Commission on Devolution in Wales.
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Paul silk showing of his magic skills
Education
Silk was educated at Christ College, Brecon; Brasenose College, Oxford, and Princeton University (USA).
Professional career
Silk served as House of Commons Clerk for a total of almost 25 years (1975-77, 1979–2001 and 2007–10), clerking at different times three departmental Select Committees, including the Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Committees.
Silk is a former Clerk of the Welsh Grand Committee. Clerk in charge of the Government of Wales Bill and contributed to drafting the first Standing Orders of the National Assembly. He has also worked as Presidential Adviser in the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, and has participated in a number of programmes for emerging democracies. He has written and lectured on Parliament and the Constitution.
Silk was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to parliaments and devolution.
Publications
Principal author of the first four editions of the standard work How Parliament Works.