Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Rejected
Subject future Government Lead Non-Executive candidates to pre-appointment hearings with the Committee.
Recommendation
We recommend that future candidates to the role of Government Lead Non-Executive should be subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. We also recommend that, as has been practice in the past, the Government Lead Non-Executive should appear before the Committee, as and when requested, to discuss the contents of the Government Lead Non- Executive Annual Report and any other matters relating to the overall system of NEDs. (Paragraph 77) The Role of Non-Executive Directors in Government 39
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for the Government Lead Non-Executive to be subject to pre-appointment hearings, stating the role does not meet the necessary criteria for such scrutiny.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Appointments which are subject to pre-appointment scrutiny are those set out in the Cabinet Office’s guidance on pre-appointment by House of Commons Select Committees. The guidance sets criteria to assess whether a public appointment should be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny. These include: i. posts which play a key role in regulation of actions by Government; or ii. posts which play a key role in protecting and safeguarding the public’s rights and interests in relation to the actions and decisions of Government; or iii. posts in organisations that have a major impact on public life or the lives of the public where it is vital for the reputation and credibility of that organisation that the post holder acts, and is seen to act, independently of Ministers and the Government. In most instances, such posts will be the chair of the board of an organisation or an individual office, rather than all non-executive members of that organisation. The Government does not believe that NEBMs or the Government Lead Non-Executive meet the criteria for these roles to be subject to such scrutiny.