Call for 'confirmation' hearings

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Public Administration Select Committee, which would be among those carrying out such "confirmation" hearings, said it could play a valuable role.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced last summer that major appointments would be subject to hearings as part of moves to boost the role of Parliament.

The committee said the sessions should be used wherever a politician was going to have the final say after an independent selection process on who took a role "for which accountability to Parliament and the public are an important part.

"We would expect pre-appointment hearings to apply to major auditors, ombudsmen, regulators and inspectors, as well as to those responsible for the appointments system itself," it concluded.

"It is important, however, to establish with clarity what the purpose of preappointment hearings would be, before deciding to which posts they might apply."

The Public Appointments Commissioner Janet Gaymer warned the committee that high-profile individuals in the private sector might be unable to apply if their candidacy would be publicly exposed to employers and the markets before the job was formally accepted.

She said she would "probably not" have put herself forward for the job and also suggested such public grillings could reduce the number of women prepared to apply for posts.

The committee said it did not believe people would be put off but said the Government should "attempt to monitor the effect on the number, balance and quality of applications".

The findings of the hearings will not be binding but the committee said the process would "only be of any significance if there is the possibility that ministers might change their minds and that a candidate's appointment might not be approved."