---

Correction to Lords Oral Answer

The Answer I provided to a supplementary question asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on the Appointments Commission during the Statement on 14 October (Official Report, col. 633) was inaccurate. The Appointments Commission is indeed to be abolished, and accountability for remaining public appointments will rest with Ministers. To ensure fairness in future appointments there is a firmly established role for the Commissioner for Public Appointments, with a clear code of conduct for the operation of ministerial public appointments. All departments are required to ensure that the appointment process is open and transparent and that appointments are made on merit. Where and how Ministers can or cannot be involved is very clearly set out in the code. Government departments have in the past managed this arrangement successfully, and will continue to do so in the future.