Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the job of Director General Chief Executive of the Prison and Probation Service was advertised, what the format of the selection procedure was for that job, how many applicants applied, and who was on the selection panel.

Appointments to critical Director General or Senior Civil Service Pay Band 3 roles are overseen by the Senior Leadership Committee (SLC), a cross-Government governance board led by the Cabinet Office. The SLC is responsible for approving how these senior roles are filled, ensuring consistency and rigour across Departments. The previous Director General Chief Executive of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Amy Rees CB, was temporarily appointed to the role of interim Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice in April 2025, while a selection process for the Permanent Secretary post took place. Phil Copple CB, the appointed Director General of Operations at HMPPS, was identified through succession planning as the interim CEO of HMPPS, and his temporary appointment was subsequently confirmed by the SLC. In September 2025, Amy Rees moved to a new role as Chief Executive of Homes England. Following SLC approval, on 18 September 2025, James McEwen, Director General and Chief Operating Officer at the Ministry of Justice, was confirmed as the permanent successor to the HMPPS CEO role in a managed move. He will formally take up the post in October 2025.