Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Appointment of the Chair of the Charity Commission

Closed Opened 17 Oct 2017 Closed 3 May 2018

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)

The Committee held a pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of the Charity Commission on 20 February 2018. The Committee unanimously agreed that it could not support the Government’s nomination. Letter from Chair to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State, re Charity Commission Chair, 20 February 2018

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 17 October 2017.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 3rd Report - Appointment of the Chair of the Charity Commission on 28 February 2018.

The government's response

Published 14 March 2018.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government maintains that Baroness Stowell is the best person to chair the Charity Commission and does not alter its decision after considering the Committee's report.

On experience, it states that the role specification "does not ask for explicit experience in the charity or regulatory sectors", and that there is "no evidence that this is a weakness".
It is "not willing to provide" evidence on other appointable candidates, including any party affiliations, saying disclosure "would be inappropriate" and the Government has a duty to protect applicants' privacy.
On impartiality, it notes that questions have been raised about her previous political roles but has "every confidence" she will act independently. It says she resigned the Conservative whip and party membership on confirmation of appointment.
On diversity of candidates, it says DCMS will work with the Cabinet Office to implement the Diversity Action Plan "over the coming months", and continue to expand its advertising and outreach.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

3rd Report - Appointment of the Chair of the Charity Commission28 February 2018

All reports

Evidence

1 oral evidence sessionLatest 20 February 2018

All evidence

Recent activity

1st Special Report - Appointment of the Chair of the Charity Commission: Government Response to the Committee's Third Report of Session 2017-1914 March 2018, Report published
3rd Report - Appointment of the Chair of the Charity Commission28 February 2018, Report published
Correspondence between Matt Hancock and Chair re senior appointments, 25 January 201827 February 2018, Correspondence

Reports

1 report

3rd Report - Appointment of the Chair of the Charity Commission

HC No.: HC 509
Published: 28 Feb 2018
Items: 0
Government response: Government response published 14 March 2018. Read the government's response ↗

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

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Date	Session and witnesses	Source
20 Feb 2018	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗

Correspondence

6 letters

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Published	Direction	Letter
27 Feb 2018	Not recorded	Correspondence between Matt Hancock and Chair re senior appointments, 25 January 2018
27 Feb 2018	To committee	Letter from Matt Hancock MP to the Chair re Charity Commission Chair, 23 February 2018
22 Feb 2018	To committee	Letter from the Chair to Matt Hancock MP re Charity Commission Chair, 22 February 2018
22 Feb 2018	To committee	Letter from Matt Hancock MP to the Chair re Charity Commission Chair, 21 February 2018
21 Feb 2018	To committee	Letter from the Chair to Matt Hancock MP re Charity Commission Chair, 20 February 2018
7 Dec 2017	To committee	Letter from Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re Charity Commission Chair appointment process