Recommendation 9

External appointments to the civil service can fill skills gaps and refresh organisational culture. There may be great benefit in encouraging inward and outward moves, both for the career development of individuals and to ensure the civil service is as effective as it can be. Nonetheless, skills acquired and experience accrued in the civil service should be valued, as should the continuity provided by a cadre of long-serving civil servants working for administrations of different political persuasions. If the ‘external by default’ system is to succeed it must be monitored closely to ensure that departments properly commit to it.