Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department seeks references for candidates appointed to public positions which fall under the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities does not routinely seek references for Public Appointments.

The Governance Code on Public Appointments sets out that the Advisory Assessment Panel must satisfy itself that all candidates for appointment can meet the Seven Principles of Public Life and adhere to the Code of Conduct for board members of public bodies.

The Governance Code requires that candidates are asked to declare relevant interests and these are discussed at interview. The department may also provide the panel with other information, for example, open source material that they may wish to consider in reaching a judgement in a fair and open way.

References may not always be an appropriate, fair or open way of reaching such an assessment due to the limitations on what might be provided and the lack of transparency as to their contents.