The Government has appointed the first-ever chair of the new Legal Services Board (LSB), with NHS Direct chairman David Edmonds securing the top job.

The appointment – made by the Lord Chancellor and justice secretary, Jack Straw, and announced today (23 April) – sees Edmonds, who is also a former managing director of Natwest and was a commissioner with the Legal Services Commission, take up the role on 1 May for a three-year period.