Government response to the Committee's report on Permanent secretaries: their appointment and removal (15 January 2024)

This is the government's response, published 24 January 2024.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government agrees with most of the Committee's conclusions and recommendations on appointment and departure of permanent secretaries, while stating it does not at present see a role for the Civil Service Commission in dismissals on performance or conduct grounds.

• It agrees that significant constitutional changes should not take place through unscrutinised evolution of practice, and that special advisers should have no role in appointments, stating that it "supports the Committee's conclusions and agrees with their recommendations" on the latter.
• On ministerial involvement, it agrees the current balance is right and says a note to permanent secretaries and HR directors reminding them of ministers' opportunities to be involved "will be sent".
• On transparency, it says work to update the Senior Appointments Protocol is "already underway", and that the Senior Leadership Committee's membership and Terms of Reference "will be published on Gov.UK".
• On removal for a broken working relationship, it agrees permanent secretaries should not be removed "without process", but says "swift action will be needed" if a relationship breaks down irrevocably.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error