Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what powers (a) the Prime Minister and (b) Ministers have to dismiss civil servants.

Under Section 3 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the statutory power to manage the Civil Service, is vested in the Prime Minister in their capacity as Minister for the Civil Service, and a parallel power exists for the Secretary of State in relation to the Diplomatic service. However, day-to-day management functions, including the authority to appoint, manage and dismiss individual civil servants, are delegated to Heads of Departments provided for under statutory powers in the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992.

Decisions regarding individual employment matters, including disciplinary action and dismissals, are handled directly by employing departments and agencies as the employer in accordance with their policies and employment law.