Church Commissioners Deputy Official Solicitor appointed Speaker's Counsel

The Speaker's Counsel provides legal advice to the Speaker and departments of the House of Commons; scrutinises domestic secondary legislation and private Bills in support of relevant committees; and scrutinises EU legislation in support of the European Scrutiny Committee.

Saira Salimi is presently the Deputy Official Solicitor to the Church Commissioners, an office that she has held for the past five years. Before joining the Church of England's legal team, she was a member of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for eight years.

Responding to news of the announcement, Andrew Brown, Secretary and Chief Executive of the Church Commissioners, said: "I am delighted for Saira that she has been appointed as legal counsel to the Speaker. It is a highly significant position and one to which I have no doubt she will bring her extensive understanding of the law and its practical outworking. We are very grateful for the way in which she has served the Church Commissioners as Deputy Official Solicitor and the wider church with distinction and send our very best wishes for her new role. We will miss her very much."

Stephen Slack, Chief Legal Adviser to the Archbishops' Council, said: "I am thrilled that Saira has been appointed as Speaker's Counsel. She has served as Deputy Official Solicitor with distinction, and it has been a great pleasure to work with such a fine lawyer and good colleague. She will therefore be greatly missed, but we wish her the very best in her exciting and demanding new role."

Saira Salimi is expected to take up her role in the Autumn of this year.