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Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Tenth Report - Another pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the Charity Commission

HC 1200 Published 31 March 2022

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the Charity Commission 2 Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance1 recommendation · Government response published 21 April 2022

The government's response

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

The Secretary of State remains confident that Orlando Fraser is the best person to chair the Charity Commission and sees no reason not to proceed with his appointment.

  • On the decision not to re-run the process after Martin Thomas's resignation, the Secretary of State "note[s]" the Committee's comments and "recognise[s]" its frustrations, but does not believe the resignation affects Mr Fraser's ability to undertake the role.
  • The Department says it carried out enhanced due diligence on Mr Fraser after the Permanent Secretary's appearance before the Committee, and "nothing came to light of any concern".
  • The Government considers the appointment complied with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, citing the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who "found no impropriety in the process".
  • On diversity of the shortlist, the Secretary of State "acknowledge[s]" the Committee's concerns and says DCMS "will continue to take targeted action on areas where improvement is required". She "respectfully disagree[s]" with the Committee's view of a "lack of care, attention and commitment to quality".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Sources

Recommendations and conclusions 1

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    We recommend that the Government looks again at the process of pre-appointments to restore some... Recommendation · addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport Recommendation (the committee's words)
    We recommend that the Government looks again at the process of pre-appointments to restore some of the trust and respect for process that seem to have been lost. We recommend the restoration of powers to the Appointment Commissioner that were removed after the Grimstone Review of 2016 and for greater Ministerial discipline in removing themselves from public speculation about candidates prior to their role in selecting a preferred candidate. 6 Another pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the Charity Commission Appendix 1: CV ORLANDO FRASER QC Curriculum Vitae March 2022 Main Professional Work: Barrister – 4 Stone Buildings, Lincolns Inn – 1994–2021 Appointed QC in April 2014. Over 27 years practising at the Chancery and Commercial Bar in England and Wales. Numerous reported cases. Recommended by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal, trade directories. Professional Bodies – member of the Bar Council, and of the Chancery and Commercial Bar Associations. Prior to 1994, worked for GEC in Coventry factory, and Paris. Public Appointments Queen’s Counsel – April 2014 - Appointed by the Lord Chancellor – see above. Charity Commission of England & Wales – July 2013 – December 2017 Appointed by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office as one of two Legal Members of the Board of the Charity Commission for England & Wales in July 2013. Appointment renewed in July 2016. Jointly responsible for strategic oversight of the Commission’s legal department, as well as being Chair of the Board’s Policy and Guidance Committee, and its Governance and Remuneration Committee. Civil Justice Council – July 2016 – July 2019 Appointed by the Lord Chancellor as the Barrister representative to the Civil Justice Council (“CJC”) in July 2016. CJC is responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the modernisation of the civil justice system. It is chaired by the Master of the Rolls. Main voluntary work Bosnia Winter Appeal – 1992 Chairman and founder of charitable appeal assisting