Public Appointments (Hansard, 1 March 1999)

HC Deb 01 March 1999 vol 326 cc580-1W 580W

§ Mr. Kidney
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will put to the House proposals for a system of confirmation hearings for public appointments. [72138]
581W

§ Mr. Kilfoyle
No. The Committee on Standards in Public Life recommended that ministerial accountability and selection on merit should be the key elements of the appointment system for public bodies, overseen by an independent Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Government have accepted this recommendation and have no plans to propose confirmation hearings.