Recommendation 25

We recognise that the arrangement whereby senior civil servants in Scotland and Wales are accountable to the Scottish or Welsh government but are line managed by the Head of the UK civil service has the potential to cause confusion about the boundary between devolved competence and reserved matters. However, it is important that the principle of a single civil service across England, Wales and Scotland is maintained. For this reason we consider it the role of the Cabinet Secretary, as Head of the Civil Service of the UK, including Scotland and Wales, to manage any challenges as they arise.