Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

The Role of Non-Executive Directors in Government

Status: Closed Opened: 7 Jun 2022 Closed: 9 Oct 2023 21 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

Non-executive directors (NEDs) have existed in Government departments in their current form since 2010, but little is known about their roles and impact. The aim of this inquiry is to explore the responsibilities, backgrounds, and influence of non-executives, as well as the appointments process, appropriate roles, and mechanisms for accountability.

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Executive Directors in Gov…	HC 318	20 Jun 2023	27	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items

5 Recommendation Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut… Deferred

Prioritise publishing Lord Maude's Review findings within two weeks of delivery.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Maude of Horsham should take into consideration the conclusions and recommendations of this inquiry into his final report for the Review of Governance and Accountability. The Government should prioritise publishing the findings of the Review within two weeks of it being delivered to provide public reassurance …

Government response. The government stated it would consider the recommendations from the Review of Governance and Accountability once it has been published and respond in due course.

17 Recommendation Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut… Deferred

Update Corporate Governance Code to stress value of NEDs and advise against automatic removal.

The consensus from oral witnesses to the inquiry, including the current Government Lead Non-Executive, was that NEDs and boards have a role to play in providing continuity and corporate memory between new Ministers and administrations. While we recognise that the Secretary of State maintains the final decision over the composition …

Government response. The government states it will consider amending the Corporate Governance Code to include provisions on the removal of departmental NEDs, taking into account the committee's recommendations and other reports, while affirming ministerial discretion.

20 Conclusion Seventh Report - The Role of Non-Execut… Deferred

Require Lead Non-Executive to report on Code compliance, detailing departmental breakdowns and departures

The Government Lead Non-Executive should provide a report on compliance with the Corporate Governance Code in the Government Lead Non-Executive Annual Report. This would cover all aspects of the Code, such as attendance at board meetings, whether fair and open recruitment practices have been followed, the management of conflicts of …

Government response. The government agrees there are benefits to publishing NEBM roles and responsibilities but does not commit to providing a report on Corporate Governance Code compliance or departmental justifications for departures. It notes its commitment to review NED roles is part …

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions

Date	Witnesses
17 Jan 2023	Michael Jary · Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP · Cabinet Office	View ↗
8 Nov 2022	Dame Sue Street DCB · Ministry of Justice, Miranda Curtis CMG · Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Ian Cheshire · Channel 4	View ↗
19 Jul 2022	Alan Cogbill · Constitution Unit, University College London, Dr Matthew Gill · Institute for Government, Mr Martin Wheatley · Commission for Smart Government	View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter

Date	Direction	Title
7 Feb 2023	To cttee	Letter from Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP on the role of Non-Executive Directors, dated…

Accepted	4
Accepted in Part	6
Acknowledged	7
Deferred	3
Not Addressed	1
Rejected	6