Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
To integrate the Departments successfully, the new PUS must have the skills and experience necessary...
Recommendation
To integrate the Departments successfully, the new PUS must have the skills and experience necessary to effectively oversee both diplomatic and development projects. Above all else, they must have exceptional knowledge and experience of change management and major project delivery to allow them to oversee a merger of this scale. We recommend that the selection criteria for the new Permanent Under- Secretary include experience of: major project management, responsibility for large budgets, multilateral diplomacy, and leadership of change in a large organisation. Given the political importance of the position and the increasing role of No. 10 in senior civil service appointments, we recommend that consideration be given by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to pre-appointment hearings for the PUS of the merged Department and, potentially, other similar roles. (Paragraph 16) 16 Merging success: Bringing together the FCO and DFID
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
A comprehensive selection criteria, which included many of the elements listed, was used to recruit Sir Philip Barton as the Permanent Under-Secretary for FCDO. The recommendation regarding any pre-appointment hearing for the PUS of the merged Department is addressed to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, however the FCO does not support the recommendation. A pre- appointment hearing for the Permanent Under-Secretary would not be correct for a Civil Service appointment. This role, and equivalent roles, are not included in the scope of pre- appointment scrutiny by House of Commons Select Committees.