2 The candidate
7. During the evidence session we questioned Dr Evans
about, in particular:
a) real or perceived conflicts of interest in
relation to a number of posts she holds or has held and how she
thought she would deal such conflicts;
b) the relationship of ICAI with us and with
DFID;
c) the future of ICAI; and
d) her expertise.
8. Dr Evans has a high degree of professional competence.
She has a great deal of experience in international development
and is an economist by training. She has for some time been involved
at a high level with organisations working in the overseas development
field, and that involvement continues to date. We are pleased
to endorse the appointment of Dr Alison Evans to the post of Chief
Commissioner of ICAI.
9. However, Dr Evans is not an audit professional
and will take office in May 2015 at the same time as all other
Commissioners' non-renewable terms end. We are concerned about
the risk to continuity.[4]
The Secretary of State has decided to re-advertise for Commissioner
candidates as DFID is "disappointed not to have attracted
the very high calibre of candidates that [it] had expected".[5]
The Framework Agreement between ICAI and DFID[6]
could be amended to permit re-appointment, subject to the Code
of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies' limits.[7]
10. Accordingly, while we are pleased
to endorse the appointment of Dr Alison Evans, we recommend that:
a) at least one of the existing Commissioners—if
willing to serve—be reappointed for a further term; and
that the Framework Agreement be amended to permit service for
up to ten years; and
b) one of the Commissioners appointed
should be an audit professional.
4 See also International Development Committee, Fourth
Report of Session 2014-15, The Independent Commission for Aid
Impact's Performance and Annual Report 2013-14 HC 523 paras
33-35. Back
5
Letter from Rt Hon Justine Greening MP to Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Bruce
MP dated 14 October 2014, appended. Back
6
http://icai.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Framework-Agreement11.pdf,
para 7.1 Back
7
Of 10 years: Commissioner for Public Appointments, Code of
Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies (2012),
para 10.1. The previous code (April 2009) imposed an additional
restriction of two terms in office before a further open competition
was required (para 5.28). Back
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