Appointments to the Budget Responsibility Committee

Following its hearing with Professor Stephen Nickell and Graham Parker today (25 October 2010), the Treasury Committee has agreed that it is satisfied that both Professor Nickell and Graham Parker have the professional competence and personal independence required to be Members of the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC)

 Andrew Tyrie, Chairman of the Committee, said:

“I congratulate both Professor Stephen Nickell and Graham Parker on their appointments. Both have been appointed after the welcome extension of the Committee’s powers to veto the appointment and dismissal of BRC members. We accelerated the appointment process for both Professor Stephen Nickell and Graham Parker to ensure the OBR is up and running as soon as possible. In future, we will delay appointments to the BRC if we are given insufficient time by the Treasury to conduct such hearings.”