MPs warn against 'rewarding failure' of HMRC boss

MPs have expressed concerns over Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs' decision to hired the former chief executive of the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

The Revenue's new chief executive, Lin Homer, presided over the UKBA whilst it controversially allowed thousands of people into the country without proper checks between 2008 and 2011.

Her appointment in December 2011 has prompted MPs to warn against "rewarding failure" at government departments, the Telegraph reports.

Despite this, Homer has received the backing of Chancellor George Osborne.

Homer, who will be paid a £180,000 salary, was in charge of the UKBA when the agency failed to check the details of hundreds of thousands of people let into Britain.

The failure was heavily criticised by chief inspector of the UKBA John Vine in a report published this week.

Home secretary Theresa May has faced continued pressure over the affair, which has prompted her to announce drastic reform of the agency.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "Successive Home Affairs Select Committee reports criticised the operations at the UKBA whilst it was under the leadership of Homer.

"It is important to know if the selection panel for Ms Homer was aware of these concerns. We should never be seen to be rewarding failure."

Prior to her leadership of the UKBA, Homer ran the Immigration and Nationality Directorate from 2005.

Charles Clarke, then home secretary, was forced to resign in 2006 when it was revealed that 1,000 foreign criminals had been mistakenly released on Homer's watch.

HMRC said Homer has a "strong track record".

Osborne said: "The problems at UKBA were structural. Homer is a very able public servant who is already bringing positive change to HMRC, building on the good work already going on in the department."