§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the recruitment competitions for the post of Communications Director for the Policing Board for Northern Ireland commenced in(a) July 2003 and (b) January 2004. [177671]
§ Mr. PearsonI am advised by the Policing Board that there was no appointment made from the July 2003 Communications Director competition because none of the candidates interviewed were deemed suitable for the post. Therefore the post was re-advertised in January 2004. An offer has been made to a candidate and the Policing Board is awaiting a formal acceptance.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what account the Policing Board for Northern Ireland has taken of the Fair Employment Tribunal decision in the case of Willisv. Police Authority for Northern Ireland and others with regard to (a) the necessity of short-listing, (b) interview panels' notes to record assessments of candidates and decisions in relation to the short-listing and interviewing process and (c) the requirement to retain all application forms and related documents for 12 months; [177672]
888W(2) for what reason the panel of the Policing Board for Northern Ireland decided not to record their individual assessments and selections in short-listing applicants for the post of Communications Director in July 2003; [177673]
(3) for what reason the Policing Board for Northern Ireland decided not to retain documentation relating to the recruitment competition for the post of Communications Director commenced in July 2003. [177674]
§ Mr. PearsonI have been advised by the Policing Board that these are issues that have been raised in an application to the Fair Employment Tribunal in Northern Ireland by a candidate who was an unsuccessful applicant for the July 2003 competition for the post of Communications Director. As there are ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.