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Press Notice – The inquiry into the appointment process for the Chair of the BBC Board, by Adam Heppinstall KC, has been published

Friday 28 April 2023

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments has published its decision notice on the inquiry into the appointment process for the Chair of the BBC Board, by Adam Heppinstall KC.  (PDF, 25 pages, 399KB). Read the press notice here (PDF, 2 pages, 130KB)

Letter to Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Monday 30 January 2023

The Commissioner for Public Appointments wrote to the Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee regarding the investigation into the appointment of the BBC Chair. William Shawcross to Rt Hon Damian Green MP.

Letter to Committee on Standards in Public Life

Thursday 12 January 2023

The Commissioner for Public Appointments wrote to Lord Jonathan Evans following meeting with the Committee on Standards in Public Life in November 2022, to follow up on matters discussed at that meeting. William Shawcross to The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL (PDF, 3 pages, 638 KB)

Wiliam Shawcross CVO – ‘Public appointments are too London-centric’

Friday 9 December 2022

Commissioner for Public Appointments – Annual report 2021-22 William Shawcross CVO, the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments, has today published his annual report for 2021–22 and said more needs to be done to reach talented candidates from outside London and the South East to join the boards of public bodies in England and Wales. The […]

Letter to Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee Chair Julian Knight MP

Friday 1 April 2022

William Shawcross wrote to Julian Knight MP as Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee after reviewing the advisory assessment panel report for the competition to appoint a new Chair of Ofcom. Letter to Julian Knight MP 1 April 2022 (PDF, 2 pages, 161 KB)

Letters to Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Friday 4 March 2022

William Shawcross responded to letters from Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Anneliese Dodds MP,  Shadow Secretary of State for Women, regarding the 2021 competition for the Chair of the National Lottery Community Fund. He informed them he would investigate this competition under his powers in the Order […]

Letter to the Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Friday 14 January 2022

The Commissioner for Public Appointments wrote to Julian Knight MP, Chair of the DCMS Select Committee on 13 January, following his appearance at DCMS Committee. Letter from William Shawcross to Julian Knight MP (PDF, 2 pages, 149KB).

Letter to the Chair of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Monday 20 December 2021

The Commissioner responded to Julian Knight MP’s letter regarding applicants to public appointments processes. Letter from William Shawcross to Julian Knight MP (PDF, 2 pages, 141KB)

Public Appointment Commissioner – Annual Report 2020 – 2021 Press Release

Thursday 23 September 2021

The Commissioner for Public Appointments has a press release for his 2020/21 Annual Report, outlining some of the findings and what he considers to be unfinished business. The Press Release can be found here (PDF, 4 pages, 99 KB)

Unfinished Business – OCPA Annual Report 2020-21

Thursday 23 September 2021

As I finally step down as Commissioner for Public Appointments at the end of September after nearly five and a half years, my feelings are mixed. There are strong positives – the commitment of thousands of people who serve on the boards of arms-length bodies which serve the public, often for little or no pay, […]