Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on the minimum length of time since leaving government a previous (a) Minister and (b) senior official can be appointed as (i) an Independent Panel Member and (ii) a Senior Independent Panel Member on a public appointments Advisory Assessment Panel.

The Cabinet Office has not issued guidance on the composition of Advisory Assessment Panels for public appointments that is specifically in relation to ex-ministers and ex-senior officials becoming panel members.

However, the Cabinet Office publishes the Governance Code on Public Appointments, which sets out general guidance on Advisory Assessment Panels, including requirements around the independence and political activity of panel members.