Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's policy document entitled Governance Code on Public Appointments, published on 8 February 2024, whether recruitment competitions for public appointments can be re-opened once closed.

The Governance Code on Public Appointments, which has not changed since the General Election and is publicly available on gov.uk, advises that, as a recruitment competition closes, ministers should be consulted on the quality and diversity of the field and whether a competition should be extended. The Code also allows ministers to reject an Advisory Assessment Panel’s advice following the completion of a competition, and not appoint any candidates recommended to them, and if they desire to re-run a competition.