Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff (a) work in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Unit, at each grade, (b) have been recruited from outside the Civil Service, (c) were appointed through open competition, (d) positions have been publicly advertised and (e) are due to be further recruited.

The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit helps to ensure her key priorities are delivered across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister.

The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration, and the policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.

There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters.