Recommendation 19

The Cabinet Office took on responsibility for both security vetting policy and operational delivery in April 2020, when UKSV transitioned from the Ministry of Defence to the Government Security Group within the Cabinet Office.47 The Cabinet Office controls UKSV’s headcount, and while UKSV’s funding costs (around £43 million per year) are covered by its customers, it nonetheless requires spending approval from the Cabinet Office Approvals Board (COAB) for any programme spend over £500,000.48 In January 2021, the Cabinet Office appointed a chief executive to run UKSV, who reports to the government chief security officer. Other than COAB, UKSV is also accountable to the Government Security Board, the Vetting Board, and the Vetting Modernisation Portfolio Board for its operations and programmes.49