§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether (a) they regard the independence of the Prison Ombudsman from the Home Office as important because he or she will have to deal quasi-judicially with complaints and appeals concerning prisoners' rights and duties in relation to the Home Office; (b) they will ensure that the Prison Ombudsman is appointed solely on the basis of personal merit and aptitude, and irrespective of political opinion or affiliation; and (c) they will ensure that the successful candidate is independent and seen to be independent of the Home Office.
Earl FerrersThe Prisons Ombudsman is intended to introduce an independent element into the prisoners' complaints system, as recommended in the Woolf report. Recruitment has been undertaken by the Civil Service Commission and the appointment will be made by the Home Secretary. It will be on the basis of the suitability of the candidate for the work.
The appointment of the Prisons Ombudsman by the Home Secretary, and the submission of reports directly to the Home Secretary will give the postholder independence from both the Prison Service and other Home Office departments.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will explain why the Home Secretary has rejected the three short-listed candidates for the office of Prison Ombudsman, and whether their rejection was influenced by political factors.
Earl FerrersSix applicants for the post of Prisons Ombudsman were interviewed last June, but after careful consideration the Home Secretary decided in September that he needed to consider candidates from a wider range of backgrounds before making an appointment.