Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Paragraph: 51
Ensure full departmental transparency in NED recruitment and require prompt publication of appointment details.
Recommendation
The Government Lead Non-Executive should ensure that every department is fully transparent about the recruitment process for its NEDs and that all departures from the Corporate Governance Code are justified in the governance statements of departments’ annual report and accounts. The Government Lead Non-Executive should work with departments and Ministers to encourage and share best practice regarding the appointment of NEDs. Furthermore, to improve the transparency of appointments in the immediate term, the Committee recommends that all departments be required to publish a GOV.UK news story within four weeks of an appointment being made, detailing the recruitment process (including whether the job was publicly advertised), the selection process, and the appointees’ suitability for the role.
Government Response Summary
The government stated that existing processes address transparency, with departures from the Corporate Governance Code disclosed in annual reports, appointments announced on GOV.UK pages, and adverts published on the Cabinet Office website detailing the process.
Paragraph Reference:
51
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The governance statement of departmental annual report and accounts should disclose all departures from the Corporate Governance Code. Appointment announcements are made by the appointing department via their gov.uk page. The governance code requires announcement of appointments including declaring any political activity. All adverts must also be published on the Cabinet Office website and will set out the process including the criteria used, timeline, composition of the panel. Additionally, each year the governance statement of departmental annual report and accounts should disclose all departures from the Corporate Governance Code.