Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government which Treasury Minister or Ministers (1) requested and (2) approved, (a) the appointment of Ian Corfield, (b) the appointment of Oliver Newton, as civil servants, and (c) the promotion to Director for Special Advisers and Chancellor Engagement of Louise Tinsley; which senior individual or individuals in the Treasury authorised the Recruitment Principles exceptions; and whether any Ministerial Code declaration of interest was made by Treasury Ministers to (i) the Permanent Secretary, or (ii) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests.

Ian Corfield was appointed on a short-term basis to carry out urgent work in support of the government’s International Investment Summit in October. A full recruitment process could not have been completed in the time available. He has since been appointed, unpaid, as a direct ministerial appointment.

Louise Tinsley has been a civil servant for 7 years. She had passed a selection board for a role at director level prior to the election. She has been appointed to her current role for an initial period of 6 months.

The Treasury does not comment on individual appointments at Deputy Director level or below.