Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Social Justice – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 22 September 2021.
In the diversity and inclusion strategy for public appointments in Wales, it outlines that the Welsh Government will develop guidance for undertaking pre-appointment hearings. The rationale, quite rightly in my mind, is to ensure that the recruitment process is as transparent and robust as possible. From 2018 to the present there have been 296 public appointments in Wales, 30 of which were chairs. The research department informs me that only three had pre-appointment hearings during this time. I understand that, in 2018, it was the First Minister's leadership manifesto pledge to introduce routine pre-appointment hearings. I am sure that the Minister will agree with me that three hearings out of 296 public appointments is disappointing and does not represent the level of transparency that the First Minister has committed to. Given the three years this Government has had to establish routine pre-appointment hearings, can the Minister now confirm to the Chamber which public appointments will have a pre-appointment hearing? Thank you.