Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Mr Haydon Etherington was appointed to her Department following open competition; on what date he was appointed; what his pay band is; and for what reason he was appointed as a civil servant rather than a Departmental special adviser.

There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters. The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.