Recommendation 19

The Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service has a vital role in ensuring that individuals are not removed from their posts by a Prime Minister without due process. If the working relationship between a secretary of state and a permanent secretary is irrecoverable the Head of the Civil Service must be given the opportunity to manage the individual’s transfer to another role or, where appropriate, their retirement. There is a case for formalising the departure process in situations where there is no issue of performance or misconduct (see paragraph 131).