The appointment and dismissal of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants

• Send a written submission
• Inquiry: The appointment and dismissal of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants
• Constitution Committee

Background

The House of Lords Constitution Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the appointment and dismissal of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants. It is exploring on the degree of ministerial involvement in the recruitment process for these positions and the extent to which ministers and prime ministers have become more involved in the dismissal of post-holders. The Committee will consider whether an informal shift has taken place in the appointment and dismissal of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants and if so, whether this indicates a desire on the part of ministers to appoint candidates more sympathetic to their views.

Questions

These are some of the questions we would like your views on, but the Committee welcomes written submissions on any aspect of this topic, and particularly on the issues and questions set out in the call for evidence.

• Have ministers and/or Prime Ministers departed from the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles (most recently updated in April 2018) by becoming more closely involved in dismissing permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants?
• Is there a notable trend for permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants to leave their posts when a change of Prime Minister or cabinet reshuffle takes place?
• Is there a case for amending the Recruitment Principles to allow for greater ministerial involvement? If so, how? Would this affect the constitutional independence and political impartiality of the civil service?
• Are there any challenges involved in permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants in Scotland and Wales forming part of the UK civil service while being politically accountable to the Scottish or Welsh governments? Does this have any implications for the recruitment and dismissal of permanent secretaries in Scotland and Wales?
• To what extent are other actors––such as special advisers––involved or influential in the recruitment and dismissal of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants?

The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 3 April 2023.

Further Information

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