Commons committee to investigate public appointments

14 Mar 02
In the wake of increasing concerns over ministerial patronage, the public administration select committee this week launched a wide-ranging inquiry into public appointments.

15 March 2002

The PASC is seeking detailed responses to 25 questions relating to the 30,000 appointments in the hands of ministers, including an investigation into how nominations are made to such bodies as the BBC and Competition Commission, as well as the selection of bishops and members of the Privy Council.

A spokesman for the Labour-dominated committee said the consultation paper would not cover the appointment of 'independent' ministerial advisers, which would be investigated separately. It would form part of the PASC investigation into the dynamics of public appointments, including why so few members of the public are interested in taking up such posts.

Committee chair Tony Wright said that it would build on the improvements to the appointments system brought about by the Nolan Committee's investigations in the 1990s.

'Election turnout is declining and cynicism appears to be spreading,' Wright said. Many public bodies were composed of the 'usual suspects', he added. 'Our inquiry will ask whether the appointments system is too influenced by ministers, and whether there is a case for Parliamentary confirmation hearings.'

The PASC recently took evidence on the issue from the musician Billy Bragg, who told the committee that the vast majority of people see public appointments as dominated by those with backgrounds similar to MPs themselves.

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