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

-       18 May 2023 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 a further letter to the Welsh Government on 26 February and the Welsh Government responded on 15 March 2024.

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.