Civil Service Impartiality Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Civil Service Impartiality

Suzanne Webb Excerpts
Monday 6th March 2023

(1 year, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I am not sure there was a question, in which case we will move on.

Suzanne Webb Portrait Suzanne Webb (Stourbridge) (Con)
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The whole situation surrounding this appointment is quite extraordinary, and many will say that it is outrageous. Does my right hon. Friend agree that appointing such a senior and high-profile civil servant to this post under such circumstances is questionable, and does he agree that what is of deep concern is the timing of this appointment and when she was approached? Where meetings were held, the details must be published.

Jeremy Quin Portrait Jeremy Quin
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I believe that transparency would help. It is important that processes are followed, because this is an unprecedented appointment, and in those circumstances, it is not too much to ask for the details of the meetings to be published: who met whom, when, where, and what was discussed. To return to the points that have been raised, it is absolutely right that this is gone through, and that the Labour party publishes exactly what took place.