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

Permanent secretaries are the most senior civil servants in each government department. As accounting officers, permanent secretaries are responsible for running the department day-to-day––including by managing the budget––and report to Parliament on these matters. They also provide support to the government minister in charge of the department, who is accountable to Parliament for the department’s … Show more

Permanent secretaries are the most senior civil servants in each government department. As accounting officers, permanent secretaries are responsible for running the department day-to-day––including by managing the budget––and report to Parliament on these matters. They also provide support to the government minister in charge of the department, who is accountable to Parliament for the department’s performance and actions. The inquiry will focus 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. In particular, it 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. Show less