Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how departments ensure that former civil servants remain compliant with the business appointment rules for up to two years after they have left the Civil Service.

The Business Appointment Rules are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and incorporated into Departmental staff handbooks, which are a part of civil servants’ contractual terms and conditions of service. It is for individual departments to determine how best to communicate with their staff on governance matters.

Departments are required to publish information on a quarterly basis regarding advice given under the Rules to senior civil servants outside the jurisdiction of the Advisory Committee, and to advise the Cabinet Office of the content of such reports.

We will shortly publish updated guidance on processing applications under the Rules.