CSPL · Upholding Standards in Public Life
USPL-19
Partially accepted
In progress
November 2021
Recommendation
The Governance Code for Public Appointments should be amended to make clear that ministers should not appoint a candidate who is deemed unappointable by an assessment panel, but if they do so, the minister must appear in front of the relevant select committee to justify their decision.
Addressed to
Cabinet Office
Government response
In the event that a Minister decides to appoint a candidate not deemed appointable by an Advisory Assessment Panel, Ministers will be obliged to write to their Select Committee, and appear before it if requested by the Select Committee Chair. The Governance Code on Public Appointments will be amended to reflect this.
CSPL assessment
partially_met