§ Rob MarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the four shadow commissioners, and the shadow chief inspector, of the Commission for Social Care Inspection are based in the South East of England; and for what reason no shadow commissioners have been appointed from other regions. [135663]
§ Dr. LadymanThe appointments of the shadow chair and commissioners of Commissioner for Social Care Inspection were made by the independent NHS Appointments Commission, not by Ministers. The shadow chair and commissioners appointed the shadow chief inspector.
These appointments have been made on the basis of ensuring that the best available people are appointed. It was important to ensure that the commissioners together were able not only to provide an appropriate range of experience and skill, but also diversity of background. Geographical origin was one of a number of factors considered. The fifth commissioner, who was appointed after the first four, is based in Sheffield and the shadow chair comes from Cheshire.
The appointment of the shadow chief inspector, as for any chief executive appointment, took no account of geographical origin as this was not regarded as relevant. As it happens, the chief inspector is from the North of England where he has spent much of his career.