Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average length of time is for the Cabinet Office to process a business appointments rules application from (a) crown servants and (b) special advisers.

The Cabinet Office processes Business Appointment Rules applications for civil servants and special advisers from within the department, as well as Permanent Secretaries from across all Government departments.

For Cabinet Office civil servants and special advisers below the ACOBA threshold (those below SCS pay band 3 or below special adviser pay band 4), the Cabinet Office oversees the full process and makes final decisions. For Cabinet Office civil servants and special advisers above the ACOBA threshold (SCS pay band 3 or above and special adviser pay band 4) the Cabinet Office provides a recommendation and supporting information to ACOBA, who then conduct their own analysis and provide advice.

Business Appointment Rules applications at SCS2 and below are managed at a departmental level. It can take between 11 and 32 working days depending on the grade and former and prospective roles to process these applications.