Ananova:

Fred Goodwin, the chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, has been awarded a knighthood for services to banking.

Mr Goodwin became known as 'Fred The Shred' after acquiring a reputation for cost cutting.

He was responsible for 18,000 job cuts when RBS took over Nat West in 2001.

Also recognised in the Queen's birthday honours list are Hugh Collum, who has recently stepped down after five years as chairman of British Nuclear Fuels.

Sir Hugh was appointed to prepare the state-owned group for privatisation but plans to dispose of up to 49% of the business was shelved last year.

Instead, another state body, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will acquire most of the group's assets.

Reed Elsevier chief executive Crispin Davis is knighted for services to the information industry while Professor Nick Stern is similarly honoured for economics.

There are knighthoods too for Bob Phillis, of the Guardian Media Group, Julian Horne-Smith of Vodafone and David Bell, chairman of the FT.

The former chairman of the IT group Xansa, Hilary Cropper is made a Dame.