Committee on Standards in Public Life: Getting the balance right: Implementing standards of conduc…
R10-11
Published January 2005
Response position and delivery status are recorded separately. Acceptance does not establish implementation.
Recommendation (the Committee's words)
(a) The Government should actively review the experience of setting up and running central lists in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the NHS Appointments Commission and the Commissioner’s own Central List of 22 independent assessors with a view to producing proposals in conjunction with the Commissioner within one year for a proportionate, cost-effective, centrally-run system. (b) In the meantime, only independent assessors recruited to the Commissioner’s Central List should be used for starred appointment competitions involving Ministers. Departments should continue recruiting and managing their own lists of independent assessors, on condition that they use an accreditation system run by OCPA which accredits assessors to be employed.
From: Committee on Standards in Public Life, Getting the balance right: Implementing standards of conduct in public life, January 2005
Government response
Government response (the government's words)
The Government considers that the current arrangements provide a flexible and proportionate solution to the different needs of individual departments, enabling them to recruit their own independent assessors or use those recruited by the Commissioner. The Government is therefore not convinced that a centrally run list of independent assessors would be more effective.
However, the Government does recognise the important role of independent assessors in the public appointment process. It believes they make a valuable contribution, not only ensuring that the process is carried out in accordance with the Commissioner’s Code of Practice, but also in terms of the quality of the appointment made.
The Government also supports the quality assurance measures put in place by the Commissioner and set out in her Code of Practice. These cover the selection of independent assessors to ensure that those appointed have the right skills and level of experience and the induction, information and support available to them. It is important for independent assessors to be properly trained in the requirements of the Commissioner’s Code of Practice to enable them to fulfil this important role. The Government believes that an accreditation system should be designed to ensure that all independent assessors have up- to-date training, and sees merit in building on the measures already put in place by the Commissioner with a view to the Commissioner, in consultation with the Cabinet Office and departments giving further consideration to developing a system of accreditation for independent assessors as proposed in recommendation 12.
However, the Government does recognise the important role of independent assessors in the public appointment process. It believes they make a valuable contribution, not only ensuring that the process is carried out in accordance with the Commissioner’s Code of Practice, but also in terms of the quality of the appointment made.
The Government also supports the quality assurance measures put in place by the Commissioner and set out in her Code of Practice. These cover the selection of independent assessors to ensure that those appointed have the right skills and level of experience and the induction, information and support available to them. It is important for independent assessors to be properly trained in the requirements of the Commissioner’s Code of Practice to enable them to fulfil this important role. The Government believes that an accreditation system should be designed to ensure that all independent assessors have up- to-date training, and sees merit in building on the measures already put in place by the Commissioner with a view to the Commissioner, in consultation with the Cabinet Office and departments giving further consideration to developing a system of accreditation for independent assessors as proposed in recommendation 12.
From: HM Government. Source document ↗