Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to provide a breakdown by (a) department and (b) job title of senior civil service jobs (i) offered and (ii) appointed since 30 May 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information held by the Cabinet Office relating to the Senior Civil Service shows there have been 43 offers made and 41 candidates posted/taken up duty since 30th May 2024. Recruitment data from some departments is collected on a biannual basis by the Cabinet Office.
Please see the full breakdown of the data held centrally on the below table.
Department | VacancyTitle | Grade | Number of vacancies | Number of jobs | Offer Reached | Candidates Posted |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | DG Food Biosecurity and Trade | SCS 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Department of Health and Social Care | DG NHS Ten Year Plan | SCS 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | DG Digital Centre | SCS 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Maritime and Coastguard Agency | Director of People & Safety | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Transport | Deputy Director Strategy and Programme, Euston Directorate (Maternity contract) | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Business and Trade | Director, Consumer and Competition Policy | SCS Pay Band 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Transport | Deputy Director – Policy Sponsorship (Roads investment Strategy) | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Business and Trade | Director, Grants Delivery | SCS Pay Band 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | SCS2 Director Digital Service Owner (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) - EOI (6-9 months initially) | SCS Pay Band 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
HM Treasury | Deputy Director - Government Financial Reporting (12 Month Fixed Term Appointment) | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department of Health and Social Care | Head of Statistics and Data Science team- Closing date extended to 28th May 23:55 | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero | Deputy Director Energy Security and Resilience Analysis Team (ESRA) | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Business and Trade | Deputy Director - Futures and Green Strategy Unit | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science | Senior Responsible Owner – Cefas Future Delivery at Sea | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | Deputy Director Counter-Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | Deputy Director, Public Services | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | Deputy Director, Defence | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | SCS1 Deputy Director Middle East Strategy Cell, National Security Secretariat - EOI (6 months) | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | SCS2 Director Communications (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) - EOI (6-9 months initially) | SCS Pay Band 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | Deputy Director, i.AI Strategy and Business Engagement | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Internal) | Deputy Director, Legal Counsellor, Joint Head Sanctions and Asia Pacific Team | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero | Deputy Director for Operating Model & Organisational Capability Programmes | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Department for Work and Pensions | Deputy Director Talent and Apprenticeships (Part-Time)? | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science | Director of Strategy and Delivery | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero | Deputy Director, Net Zero Strategy Directorate | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
HM Treasury | Deputy Director, Financial Services Strategy | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Work and Pensions | Deputy Director, Group Strategy and Coordination | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
National Crime Agency | Deputy Director HR Delivery Services | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Business and Trade | Senior Investment Partner, Office for Investment | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | SCS2 Director Operations (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) - EOI (6-9 months initially) | SCS Pay Band 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero | Deputy Director for Shared Services, | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Business and Trade | UK Pavilion Director – Osaka World Expo 2025 | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero | Deputy Director, Smart Metering Implementation Programme, Stewardship Team | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Department for Culture, Media and Sport | Deputy Director, BBC Policy | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | Deputy Director, Head of Office for Quantum Technologies | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
HM Treasury | Deputy Director, Education & Skills | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cabinet Office | Deputy Director National Security Communications | SCS Pay Band 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-executive directors have had their contract of employment terminated since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster appoints Non-Executive Board Members to the Cabinet Office Board and most Non-Executive Directors to the Boards of its Arm’s Length Bodies in compliance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. Non-Executives are not employees and therefore contracts of employment are not issued, Non-Executives receive terms of agreement for their roles instead.
Since 5 July 2024, seven Cabinet Office Non-Executive Board Members have been provided with one month’s written notice for the termination of their appointments before the end of the fixed period as set out in their terms of agreement.
It is normal practice for incoming Ministers to make decisions on their own departmental boards, including the skills and experience that membership brings.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the contract of employment for non-executive directors has been fully complied with since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster appoints Non-Executive Board Members to the Cabinet Office Board and most Non-Executive Directors to the Boards of its Arm’s Length Bodies in compliance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. Non-Executives are not employees, therefore contracts of employment are not issued. Non-Executives receive terms of agreement for their roles instead.
The Cabinet Office has been fully compliant with the terms of agreement between its Non-Executive Board Members since 5 July 2024.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy was on external by default for recruitment to senior civil service roles by (a) department and (b) organisation on (i) 30 May 2024 and (ii) 23 July 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Civil Service advertises all SCS vacancies on the principle of External by Default.
External by Default means that vacancies will be open to external candidates outside the Civil Service, as well as existing civil servants, unless an exception applies. Use of exemptions for any post must be approved by the Departmental Minister or Permanent Secretary in Non-Ministerial Departments.
This policy applies to all Ministerial departments, Non-Ministerial departments, Executive Agencies and Crown Non-Departmental Public Bodies.
This policy was applicable on 30 May 2024 and 23 July 2024.
On the 30 May 2024, in accordance with the General Election Guidance 2024, any appointments that required approval by the Prime Minister, and other Civil Service and public appointments likely to prove sensitive (including those where Ministers have delegated decisions to officials or other authorities) were frozen until after the election, except in exceptional circumstances (General Election Guidance, Section H, para 1-4).
Where an appointment was required to be made, because the role was urgent or critical, and including where necessary sensitive SCS positions, the role could be filled on a temporary basis by exception. The principle of external by default for all SCS recruitment was maintained during the pre-election period. Any temporary appointments were subject to approval via the exemption process (Civil Service Recruitment Framework 2022). During the pre-election period, approval for urgent exemptions to external by default could be made by Permanent Secretaries where Ministerial availability was limited.
Responsibility for adhering to pre-election guidance in relation to recruitment sat with the hiring department.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 2.3 of the report of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, whether the strengthened powers for the Charity Commission on which the Government plans to consult will include the ability to examine suspicious activity reports.
Answered by Rob Wilson
The Government consulted on a range of new and strengthened powers for the Charity Commission in December 2013. These formed the basis for the draft Protection of Charities Bill published in October 2014, and which is subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on the Draft Protection of Charities Bill. Charity Commission access to suspicious activity reports was not included as it does not require legislation.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government takes to vet (a) applicants for and (b) holders of civil service posts in central government departments for extremist views.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
All civil servants are subject to recruitment checks (including of unspent criminal records) and are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code. Civil servants in sensitive roles are also subject to national security vetting, which involves a wide range of checks including against Security Service and police records. Managers are expected to report concerns about staff, including for example, expressions of support for extremist views, actions or incidents. Further details of the vetting process are available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmg-personnel-security-controls.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of the job specification for the role of the Anti-corruption Champion; and what dedicated resources there are to support that role.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
As the Prime Minister set out in his written statement on 13 October 2014, the Minister for Business and Enterprise as the Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion will oversee the Government response to domestic and international corruption. His appointment demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to tackling this issue both at home and abroad.
The Government will publish a cross-departmental anti-corruption plan, setting out the range of activity currently underway and future policy directions, later this year and this will provide further information about the role.
The Anti-Corruption Champion is supported by officials in both the Cabinet Office and Home Office who lead on the co-ordination of international and domestic anti-corruption work across departments.