Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what stages of recruitment are still to be completed for the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration role.

The Home Affairs Select Committee’s pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate took place on 11 February.

Once Ministers have finalised the appointment and the terms of appointment have been agreed, the new ICIBI will be announced in the normal way.

Ministers agreed to extend David Bolt’s appointment term as interim ICIBI for a further period of up to three months, to enable sufficient time to conclude the recruitment process for a permanent ICIBI and ensure a smooth transition.