Following an open competition, Stephen Gibson has been named as the government's preferred candidate to the post of Chair of the Regulatory Policy Committee.
The Secretary of State has invited the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee to hold a pre-appointment hearing and to report on Mr Gibson's suitability for the post. This is in line with the government's commitment to strengthen the role of Parliament in scrutinising major public appointments.
Pre-appointment hearings enable select committees to take evidence from preferred candidates for major public appointments before they are appointed. Hearings are in public and involve the select committee publishing a report setting out their views on the candidate's suitability for the post. Pre-appointment hearings are non-binding but ministers will consider the committee's views before deciding whether to proceed with an appointment.
The Regulatory Policy Committee is an independent body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Regulatory Policy Committee assesses the quality of evidence and analysis used to inform regulatory proposals affecting the economy, businesses, civil society, charities and other non-government organisations. Its independent advice and scrutiny helps ensure that ministerial policy decisions are based on accurate evidence, and helps to produce better regulation.
