To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2008, Official Report, column 555W, on crime: victims, what form the recruitment exercise for a commissioner for victims and witnesses took; what steps his Department has taken to make an appointment since 2006; and what future options for the role of commissioner are under consideration. (203163)

The recruitment exercise for the role of Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses was carried out according to the code of practice for public appointments and used an executive recruitment agency (Veredus) who specialise in public appointments. This included public advertisements in relevant publications and an executive search targeting individuals perceived to be of the right calibre for the role.

We are still undertaking analysis to inform options for the role. The Office For Criminal Justice Reform is consulting with a number of relevant stakeholders (including the Victims Advisory Panel) and will be putting advice up to Ministers in due course.