Criminal Justice Inspectorate

HC Deb 19 May 2004 vol 421 c1092W

Lady Hermon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff are employed within the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement on recruitment to the Inspectorate. [173304]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Within recent months the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland has been engaged in recruiting and appointing staff. A deputy Chief Inspector and Head of Research and Communications have been appointed. The process of recruiting inspectors is progressing as planned. The first of these should be in post by July, trained and ready to start the programme of inspections in the autumn. Senior support staff have also been identified and will be in post by that time.