In this Report we follow our practice of reporting on whether those appointed or re-appointed to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England fulfil our criteria for appointments to the MPC of professional competence and personal independence. The Report relates to the appointment of Spencer Dale as Executive Director, Monetary Analysis and Statistics, and Chief Economist at the Bank with effect from 1 July 2008. We welcome the decision of the Governor of the Bank of England to make future appointments to the posts of Executive Directors of the Bank which carry membership of the Monetary Policy Committee subject to external advertisement, while noting that this procedure was not followed in the case of the appointment of Spencer Dale. Spencer Dale himself welcomed the move to external advertisement in his oral evidence to us, and this process may produce a better balance between internal and external candidates. We are satisfied that Spencer Dale meets our two criteria for appointment to the Monetary Policy Committee of professional competence and personal independence. We wish him every success as a member of that body.