Oral evidenceSelect & Joint CommitteesWednesday, 24 June 202609:30

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: Pre-appointment Hearing: The Commissioner for Public Appointments

Committee hears from witnesses

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will conduct a pre-appointment hearing for the incoming Commissioner for Public Appointments, the independent official who oversees the integrity and fairness of senior public sector recruitment. The hearing allows MPs to scrutinise the candidate's qualifications, approach to the role, and commitment to upholding standards in ministerial appointments and civil service recruitment before Parliament considers their appointment.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments holds broad responsibility for regulating how government recruits to top posts across the public sector. This pre-appointment hearing is a key democratic checkpoint: it allows Parliament to assess whether the incoming Commissioner will maintain public confidence in the integrity of the appointment process, a particularly sensitive issue after recurring controversies over ministerial hiring and the politicisation of appointments.

MP & Parliament

Committee mentioned:Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee