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The Government welcomes the Committee’s acknowledgment that the principle of participation by Ministers in the public appointments process is not incompatible with the independence and integrity of the system. It also welcomes the fact that there is common ground here among a variety of important stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Permanent Secretaries, Ministers and other informed players and observers. Ministers are a very important stakeholder in the public appointments process. Under the legislation which establishes public bodies, Ministers are responsible for making appointments. They are accountable for the
performance of individual public appointees and the bodies to which they are appointed. For these reasons, the Government therefore believes it is only right that Ministers should have a proper and transparent involvement in the process. The Government will work with the Commissioner to ensure that there is an agreed approach which provides clarity and openness about the degree of ministerial involvement.