Pinter and Jagger on jubilee honours list

Harold Pinter, the eminent and iconoclastic playwright, is honoured in the Queen's golden jubilee birthday list published today.

The 71-year-old writer, who had surgery for cancer of the oesophagus in April, is appointed a Companion of Honour. He had previously turned down John Major's offer of a knighthood and has been scathingly critical of Tony Blair's Government over the Nato bombing of Serbia.

Some of the names in the list are surprising and controversial. Brian Cass, the managing director of Huntingdon Life Sciences, the pharmaceutical research firm that has been attacked by protesters for its testing on animals, is appointed CBE.

Also controversial is the knighthood for the entrepreneur Gulam Noon. The millionaire, who made his fortune from selling Indian food, has given more than £100,000 to the Labour Party. Downing Street strenuously attempted to defend the award. The Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted the donation had not been a factor and described Mr Noon as a "very fine industrialist and philanthropist".

Mick Jagger, who has fronted the Rolling Stones since the early 1960s and who is still performing at the age of 58, is knighted. The rock 'n' roll singer and songwriter, who recently mused on television that he had never received royal recognition, announced he was "delighted" at the news.