Labour has demanded an immediate inquiry into allegations of a conflict of interest involving the chief inspector of probation.
The Guardian reported on Saturday that Paul McDowell faced questions after Sodexo Justice Services, where his wife is deputy managing director, was named as preferred bidder for six out of 21 regional contracts to take over parts of the probation service in England and Wales next year.
The shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, has written to the Commons justice select committee asking them to summon McDowell and the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, to question them about McDowell’s suitability for the watchdog role.
Khan said the Guardian’s disclosure was “of such importance that you [should] consider an immediate inquiry into any conflicts of interest, and the process that led to the appointment of the chief inspector of probation.”
Khan said he was alarmed at reports that the justice ministry failed to mention the link to Sodexo before the committee endorsed McDowell after a scrutiny hearing last autumn.
“It is possible that had the justice select committee been made aware of the full facts, the pre-appointment scrutiny might have reached a different conclusion. I therefore feel strongly that the secretary of state should also be summoned to appear before your committee to fully explain the process,” he wrote to the committee chairman, Sir Alan Beith.
“Parliament and the public deserve a chief inspector doing the job without fear or favour. It is crucial that the post holder commands the confidence of the wider public, including those who work in the probation service and parliament.”
Beith voiced concern on Friday that the close family interest had not been previously declared to the committee and said it now needed to be considered in the light of Sodexo winning the largest number of probation contracts.
McDowell has told the Guardian that he was confident the issue could be “managed appropriately” within existing rules and said he declared it to the Ministry of Justice on his application for the post. The rules allow the chief inspector to delegate inspections of any organisation that lead to a potential conflict of interest.
A justice ministry spokesperson said on Friday that any potential conflicts of interest would be fully evaluated and appropriate arrangements put in place if necessary. The ministry has not yet responded on the failure to disclose McDowell’s wife’s role at the time of his appointment last autumn.
