 In the 1952 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in recognition of his service as Secretary of the Scottish Home Department, and thereby granted the title "sir".In the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in recognition of his service as Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office.In the 1974 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) "for public services".