Appendix 3: Letter from the Home Secretary
dated 11 February 2015
Thank you for your letter of 9 February about the
pre-appointment hearing for the chairman of the independent inquiry
into child sexual abuse, in which you asked for additional information
on the selection process and terms of appointment.
There were over 150 nominations for the position
of chairman. These nominations came from survivors, survivors'
representatives, MPs, and members of the public. In addition,
the Home Office also contacted Commonwealth countries, via the
Foreign Office, to identify any suitable candidates.
Each and every name was assessed against a set of
criteria, incorporating the views of survivors on the most important
factors. This included the appropriate skills to carry out this
complex task; experience of the subject matter; and the absence
of any direct links to any individual about whom people may have
concerns or any institution, or organisation, that might fall
under the scope of the inquiry. These criteria were published
last Thursday; I attach them for your convenience. Assessing the
nominations against these criteria resulted in a shortlist of
candidates for chairman. It would not be appropriate for me to
share who was on that shortlist.
Justice Goddard will be paid in line with other public
appointments of this nature. The Inquiry Secretariat will be publishing
the costs for the inquiry in due course.
Justice Goddard has already been through substantial
checks and in-depth interviews as part of the due diligence process.
In addition to this, and as I have discussed with her, prior to
her appointment she will write an open letter to me declaring
all relevant interests. This letter will be published on the inquiry
website.
Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Home Secretary
| 
