Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
3
Recommendation
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that each Government department make public the terms of reference for their departmental boards, including the individual roles and responsibilities of each non-executive board member. These should be published on GOV.UK and updated annually, or sooner if there are changes in board membership.
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We recommend that each Government department make public the terms of reference for their departmental boards, including the individual roles and responsibilities of each non-executive board member. These should be published on GOV.UK and updated annually, or sooner if there are changes in board membership.
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Government response AI summary
The government agreed that roles and responsibilities of NEBMs should be published for transparency, suggesting this occurs as part of their biographies on departmental websites rather than requiring full departmental board terms of reference to be made public.
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13
Recommendation
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut…
Accepted in Part
The Cabinet Office should confirm in their response to this Report that the list of NEDs by department has been updated on GOV.UK, given this transparency data is now two years out of date. In addition to their names and department, we recommend that this list includes the year that …
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The Cabinet Office should confirm in their response to this Report that the list of NEDs by department has been updated on GOV.UK, given this transparency data is now two years out of date. In addition to their names and department, we recommend that this list includes the year that the NEDs were appointed, and that the list is reviewed and updated at least annually.
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Government response AI summary
The government confirms the latest list of NEBMs was in the Lead Non-Executive Annual Report and commits to publishing a supplementary list twice annually, addressing the call for more frequent updates but not explicitly confirming the inclusion of appointment years on GOV.UK.
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15
Recommendation
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut…
Accepted in Part
The Cabinet Office should confirm in its response to this Report the timeline for implementing the CSPL recommendation that NED appointments should be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This should apply to all NED appointments in Government departments. We also recommend that the position of Government Lead Non-Executive …
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The Cabinet Office should confirm in its response to this Report the timeline for implementing the CSPL recommendation that NED appointments should be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This should apply to all NED appointments in Government departments. We also recommend that the position of Government Lead Non-Executive should be classed as a “significant appointment” under the Governance Code on Public Appointments, which would require a senior independent panel member to be involved in the recruitment to provide an additional level of scrutiny and public assurance.
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Government response AI summary
The government has implemented the regulation of NEBM appointments by updating the Public Appointments Order in Council. However, the classification of the Government Lead Non-Executive position as a 'significant appointment' will be considered during the next refresh of the Significant Appointments list.
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16
Recommendation
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut…
Accepted in Part
The Committee notes that the latest Government Lead Non-Executive Report for 2021–22 shows a drop in female representation on departmental boards since 2020– 21, and we are particularly concerned by the absence of any data on black, Asian, and minority ethnic representation this year. We note that the Government has …
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The Committee notes that the latest Government Lead Non-Executive Report for 2021–22 shows a drop in female representation on departmental boards since 2020– 21, and we are particularly concerned by the absence of any data on black, Asian, and minority ethnic representation this year. We note that the Government has never reported on any characteristics beyond gender and ethnicity. The Government Lead Non-Executive should continue to report on the diversity of NEDs in terms of 36 The Role of Non-Executive Directors in Government gender and ethnicity at a minimum in the Annual Report. We also encourage the Government to consider what other metrics on diversity could be included in this Report.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to include ethnic minority representation data in the Government Lead Non-Executive Report where it is made available, but will not mandate disclosure. The Commissioner for Public Appointments will also monitor and publish department diversity data annually.
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21
Recommendation
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut…
Accepted in Part
The effective use of departmental boards requires sufficient ministerial interest and regular scrutiny. Secretaries of State should undertake mandatory training, with the Prime Minister’s sponsorship, on their role chairing quarterly board meetings, how to work with NEDs, and how to run a departmental board effectively. Departments should also list specific …
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The effective use of departmental boards requires sufficient ministerial interest and regular scrutiny. Secretaries of State should undertake mandatory training, with the Prime Minister’s sponsorship, on their role chairing quarterly board meetings, how to work with NEDs, and how to run a departmental board effectively. Departments should also list specific actions that they are taking forward as a result of annual board effectiveness evaluations in their annual reports and accounts.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts in part, stating that Lead Non-Executives, supported by NEBMs, should support Secretaries of State in running effective boards, and will provide supporting guidance. They will also encourage all departments to list actions from board effectiveness evaluations in annual reports, rather than mandating …
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23
Recommendation
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut…
Accepted in Part
In chapter two in this Report, we recommend that the Government publishes an updated Corporate Governance Code and terms of reference for each departmental board to provide greater transparency on the individual responsibilities of NEDs. In addition to this, we recommend routine publishing of board minutes on GOV.UK after each …
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In chapter two in this Report, we recommend that the Government publishes an updated Corporate Governance Code and terms of reference for each departmental board to provide greater transparency on the individual responsibilities of NEDs. In addition to this, we recommend routine publishing of board minutes on GOV.UK after each quarterly meeting, with a standing agenda item on the work of NEDs in departments. Furthermore, the Government Lead Non-Executive reports should be published routinely within four months of the reporting year ending at the end of March. We therefore expect the report covering 2022–23 to be published by August
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to publish terms of reference for departmental boards and the responsibilities of NEBMs. However, they reject the routine publishing of board minutes and will only consider improvements to the Corporate Governance Code, while indicating an October deadline for the Government Lead Non-Executive …
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