Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2017 to Question 59416 on Maria Strizzolo, what circumstances created an urgent need; and what specific skills Ms Strizzolo possessed which qualified her appointment under Exception 1 of the Civil Service Commissioner's recruitment principles.

Maria Strizzolo possessed the specific skills required for the post which were to be able to work effectively with external partners and have strong organisational skills. While these skills did exist in the Skills Funding Agency, they were already being utilised fully and there was a short term need for additional staff with these skills. The post filled was therefore temporary and filled on that basis, in line with Exception 1 of the Civil Service Commissioner’s recruitment principles.