Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the final decision on whether to appoint a candidate to the role of Chief Inspector of (a) Probation and (b) Prisons rests with the Secretary of State alone.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation is appointed by the Secretary of State after consideration of the pre-appointment hearing report by the Justice Select Committee. By convention Her Majesty the Queen is informed of the appointment.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of the Secretary of State after consideration of the pre-appointment hearing report by the Select Committee.