Following a pre-appointment hearing by the Transport
Committee on Friday 5 June, MPs have endorsed the appointment of
Sir Stephen Hillier DFC CBE to the role of Chair of the Civil
Aviation Authority.
Sir Stephen has a distinguished record of service in the
Royal Air Force from 1980-2019, including time in the top role of
Chief of the Air Staff from July 2016 to July 2019. The
pre-appointment hearing and written questions addressed his
background and experience, his motivation for taking up the role,
his understanding of the CAA and the challenges ahead.
Chair of the Transport Committee, , said:
“This is an extremely challenging time for civil
aviation. Coronavirus has had an immediate impact and we will
feel the repercussions for quite some time. Consumers are right
to question the protections they are due. As technology advances,
we need an environmentally sustainable aviation sector. And there
is a changing regulatory environment, including our priorities as
the UK leaves the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Even as Sir Stephen first applied for the role, he cannot have
foreseen the range of change ahead.
“Throughout our hearing, Sir Stephen was open and
engaging, offering thoughtful answers our questions on the work
and priorities of the CAA. We are more than satisfied that
he has the professional competence and personal independence
required for the post of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority
and the priorities ahead.
“Today’s
report recommends that the Secretary of State
at the Department for Transport proceeds with
the appointment of Sir Stephen Hillier and the
Committee wishes him every success in the
future. We look forward to hearing from him again as
he undertook to come back in six months’ time to update the
committee on his progress.”
Pre-appointment hearings add to a committee’s scrutiny of
the Government as they ensure parliamentary oversight of key
public appointments. The purpose of the hearing is to enable the
committee to investigate whether a candidate has the professional
competence and personal independence required for the post,
should they be appointed.
This is the first time that MPs have been involved in the
appointment for the Chair of the CAA. It follows an inquiry into
pre-appointment hearings by the Public Administration and
Constitutional Affairs Committee in 2018, which reviewed the list
of appointments which should be subject to scrutiny by select
committees.
The Civil Aviation Authority is a public corporation which
was established by Parliament in 1972 as an independent
specialist aviation regulator. As the UK’s aviation regulator, it
aims to ensure that:
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The aviation industry meets the highest safety
standards
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Consumers have choice and value for money and are
protected and treated fairly when they fly
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Through efficient use of airspace, the environmental
impact of aviation on local communities is effectively managed
and carbon dioxide emissions are reduced, and the aviation
industry manages security risks effectively.
The CAA also runs the ATOL holiday financial protection
scheme and economically regulates some airports and certain
aspects of air traffic control.
A description of the role of the CAA Chair and Sir
Stephen’s CV are included in the appendices of the attached
report, along with the questions the committee asked the
candidate ahead of the pre-appointment session.
