The report of the Public Administration Select Committee's (PASC) inquiry in to, Politics and Administration: Ministers and Civil Servants recommends that Ministers have a greater say in the appointment of civil servants.
We believe:
PASC recommends internal processes for promotion to be on the same footing as external appointments.
In January 2006, the Commissioners gave evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) for its inquiry, Politics and Administration: Ministers and Civil Servants. PASC published its report on 26 March 2007. One of the Committee's recommendations was that Ministers should be offered a greater say in the appointment of civil servants. In response, the First Commissioner issued a statement confirming the Commissioners' belief that this should not amount to Ministers being given a choice.
The Commissioners have argued for some time that the doctrine of ministerial accountability needed to be reviewed. The development of a Good Governance Code, as recommended by the Committee, could help in redefining relationships between Ministers and civil servants. However, the Commissioners do not believe that Ministers should be able to express a preference in appointments to senior Civil Service posts. Appointments must be made solely on merit. Ministerial choice or preference could open the Civil Service to allegations of political affiliation or manipulation. Given that individual ministerial appointments can be of short duration, the 'personal preference' of one Minister may not suit the next and, in the interests of good government, departments need continuity at the top.
The Committee recommended that the internal process for promoting civil servants should be on the same footing as external appointments. To this end, Sir Gus O'Donnell, Head of the Home Civil Service, has already agreed that the Commissioners will now be involved in all appointments to the top 200 posts in the Civil Service, whether by open or internal competition and will ensure due process is followed in all managed moves.
