Public Appointments

The Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee is carrying out an inquiry into public appointments in Wales.

The Committee agreed to consider the Welsh Government’s approach to the public appointments process, including where this could be improved to increase the diversity of candidates for public appointments made by Welsh Ministers.

The Committee held its first evidence session of the inquiry with the Commissioner for Public Appointments on 15 December 2022.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments wrote to the Committee on 24 February 2023 to follow-up on points raised during the evidence session.

The Committee held evidence sessions on:

-       3, 18 May and 7 June 2023 with external stakeholders.

-       18 May 2023 and 17 October 2024 with the Welsh Government.

The Committee also wrote to all Senedd Committees seeking their views and experiences on the public appointments process in Wales. Copies of the responses can be found below.

The Committee held an evidence session with the Welsh Government on 14 December 2023. The Welsh Government subsequently provided further information that was requested by Members at the evidence session. The Committee considered this information at its meeting on 21 February 2024.

The Chair wrote to the Welsh Government on 26 February 2024 and the Welsh Government responded on 15 March 2024.

The Committee held an oral evidence session with senior Welsh Government officials on 17 October 2024. Following the meeting, Tim Moss, Director General and Chief Operating Officer wrote to the Committee. The Committee considered this information at its meeting on 21 November 2024.

Tim Moss, Director General and Chief Operating Officer – Welsh Government wrote to the Committee on 20 December 2024 to update Committee members on work being undertaken to determine the Welsh language assessment of our board members. The Committee considered the letter at its meeting on 22 January 2025.

Tim Moss, Director General and Chief Operating Officer – Welsh Government wrote to the Committee on 27 February 2025 to update Committee members on the results of a recent survey on the work being undertaken to determine the Welsh language assessment of their board members. The Committee considered the letter at its meeting on 13 March 2025.

The Committee published its report and supplementary report on Thursday 27 March 2025. The Welsh Government laid its response on 9 June and was considered at the Committee’s meeting on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

Information about the Committee’s inquiry

As part of the inquiry the Senedd’s Citizen Engagement team have undertaken a series of interviews with people that have held, currently hold, or have applied for public appointment positions. The Citizen Engagement Team produced a report: Public Appointments in Wales: Engagement Findings further to completing these interviews.