Recommendation 1

The impartiality and perceived impartiality of the civil service is a central tenet of our constitution and not seriously challenged. Any fundamental changes to it should be made consciously and openly, and should be implemented only following careful scrutiny. In some cases, the change would require amendment of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Where legislative change is not needed change should still be carried out with appropriate scrutiny and cross-party agreement. Under no circumstances should significant changes to the constitutional balance of the appointment and departure processes for civil servants take place through unscrutinised evolution of practice. (Paragraph 17) Appointment process