Appointment of the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority : Sixteenth Report of Session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report and Appendices, Together with Formal Minutes

This report discusses the pre-appointment hearing held on Tuesday 6 December, examining the professional competence and personal independence of the Government's preferred candidate for the post of Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Andrew Dilnot CBE.

This was the second pre-appointment hearing for the post to be held by PASC.

Following the first hearing in June 2011 the Government's preferred candidate withdrew and a fresh competition was held.

Following the withdrawal the Minister for the Cabinet Office said he envisaged a greater role for PASC in the selection process for the Chair of UKSA.

PASC was consulted on the composition of the interview panel, and they were pleased that the Government accepted their recommendations for a panel with a more independent element, on which PASC was represented.

Mr Dilnot, an economist and broadcaster, has been Principal of St Hugh's College since October 2002 and Pro Vice Chancellor of Oxford University since 2005.

Between 1991 and 2002 he was Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The Committee is satisfied that Mr Dilnot has both the professional competences and personal independence necessary to fulfil this role.