Government Response to the Committee's report on The accountability of civil servants

This is the government's response, published 7 February 2013.

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

The Government supports the existing model of ministerial accountability, agrees with several recommendations, does not accept the recommendation on ministers' role in temporary expert appointments, and says other recommendations will be considered in its review of the Osmotherly rules.

• On Permanent Secretary appointments, the Government "agrees" that the process must conform to the constitutional principles, but is "disappointed" that the Civil Service Commission did not support a panel-sifted choice of appointable candidates for ministers. It will review the new approach "in the course of 2013".
• The Government "does not accept" the recommendation that Ministers have no role in appointing individuals to temporary expert roles, saying such appointments must follow the Commission's recruitment principles and the Civil Service Code.
• On select committee evidence, the Government is reviewing the Osmotherly rules. It would not "expect there to be any change" on the draft publication point, and the extension to other former senior post holders "will be considered" in that review.
• The Government "agrees" no additional powers are needed for civil servants to check the constitutionality of ministerial actions, and "agrees" that ministers are responsible for special advisers. On major projects, it will publish a "one year on" report.

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