Committee on Standards in Public Life: Getting the balance right: Implementing standards of conduc…
R10-8
Published January 2005
Response position and delivery status are recorded separately. Acceptance does not establish implementation.
Recommendation (the Committee's words)
The Commissioner for Public Appointments should exercise fully her functions under the Order in Council to maintain the principle of selection on merit in relation to public appointments. The Commissioner should not hesitate to publish a contemporaneous report or issue a statement (paragraph 3.37 of the Code of Practice notes that “the Commissioner may decide to comment publicly”) setting out in detail where she has reasonable belief that an appointing authority has breached the Code of Practice. She should only do this after she has held a face-to-face meeting with the Minister concerned in an attempt to seek to resolve any dispute and it is clear the Minister will not accept her proposal.
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 accepts these recommendations. Disputes between the Commissioner and departments are rare and, on the few occasions when they have occurred, the current arrangements have generally been effective. The Commissioner has commented publicly on cases of non-compliance with her Code of Practice and included details in her annual report.
However, the Government recognises there is scope for a more clearly defined procedure to be drawn up and believes it would be appropriate for the Commissioner to do this in consultation with the Cabinet Office and departments.
However, the Government recognises there is scope for a more clearly defined procedure to be drawn up and believes it would be appropriate for the Commissioner to do this in consultation with the Cabinet Office and departments.
From: HM Government. Source document ↗