Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the First Civil Service Commissioner's letter to Heads of Department of 22 July 2026, whether the requirement that Permanent Secretary competitions be chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner is (a) a statutory requirement, (b) a requirement of the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles or (c) set out in other guidance.

Paragraphs 44-47 of the Civil Service Recruitment Principles set out the principles for Permanent Secretary competitions. As set out in paragraph 44, "Permanent Secretary competitions must be chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner (or nominee), who will be responsible for ensuring that Ministers, including the Prime Minister, are fully involved in competitions in which they have an interest and that their views are relayed to the panel, and taken into account."

The requirements for the publication of the Recruitment Principles are set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.