§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Nolan Committee on appointments; and what impact these measures have had on the time taken for appointments to be made. [28851]
§ Mr. Chris SmithMy Department has acted on the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, whose appointment was recommended by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life.
We have established an appointments unit charged with overseeing the implementation of the Commissioner's recommendations. The unit also maintains a register of people who have expressed an interest in public appointment, acts as the secretariat for the advisory panels which provide independent scrutiny of shortlisted candidates, and co-ordinates advertising and executive search to fill posts where necessary, in accordance with the Commissioner's principle of proportionality.
These measures have inevitably lengthened the appointments process.