Appendix 1: Letter from the Secretary
of State for Communities and Local Government
The Housing Ombudsman Pre-Appointment Hearing
Thank you for your letter of 15 October seeking my
agreeing to a pre-appointment hearing for the role of the Housing
Ombudsman.
I support the CLG Select Committee in conducting
a hearing with the preferred candidate(s) before I appoint Dr
Biles' successor and will ensure the Cabinet Office's list of
roles requiring a pre-appointment hearing is updated to reflect
this. Under current proposals, I plan to appoint a new Ombudsman
in December and will ask officials to liaise with the Committee
to agree a suitable date for the hearing that will not delay this
timetable.
My Department is aware of the wider Ombudsman review
and have discussed this appointment with the Cabinet Office. The
skills required for the role and the terms and conditions of the
appointment will reflect the potential for future changes to the
scope of The Housing Ombudsman.
11 November 2014
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